Marsh Trefoil (Bogbean)
Menyanthes trifoliata. GENTIANACEAE (MENYANTHACEAE).
Planting and Growing Marsh Trefoil
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow marsh trefoil in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of marsh trefoil
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for marsh trefoil
- Season of bloom and planting time for marsh trefoil
- When, how deep, and where to plant marsh trefoil
- How to plant marsh trefoil
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of marsh trefoil
- Landscape and container uses of marsh trefoil
- Comments about marsh trefoil and its features
Growing Marsh Trefoil
Several cultivars of low, creeping or trailing, rhizomatous, deciduous aquatic perennial herbs, to 8 in. (20 cm) tall. Textured, bright green, oval, pointed leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long, in triplets on long red stems.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
![023-flower Flower on plant logo glyph Copyright ©2020 Used under grant of license from license holder. All rights reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/023-flower.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Many pink becoming white, fringed, bearded flowers, in long, branching clusters, in late spring.
Best Climates
![3-Conditions_006-cloud Glyph icon sun and clouds](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/3-Conditions_006-cloud.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Hardy. Zones 3–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
![4-Soil_002-soil Glyph icon plants and soil profile. Copyright © 2019, 2020 Dolezal & Associates. Used by grant of license from copyright holder. All Rights Reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/4-Soil_002-soil.jpg?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Wet, peaty soil or, in water features, shallow-depth marginal or shoreline sites. Fertility: Average. 5.0–6.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
![010S1-H1_Plant_Shrub Glyph icon planting shrub in garden landscape. Copyright © 2019, 2020 Dolezal & Associates. Used by grant of license from copyright holder. All Rights Reserved by licensor.](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/010S1-H1_Plant_Shrub.png?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 16 in. (40 cm) apart, or submerged to 6 in. (15 cm).
Proper Care
![011T2-H1_Care_Tree-2 Glyph icon gardening care, watering can and water drops](https://i0.wp.com/grownbyyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/011T2-H1_Care_Tree-2.png?fit=64%2C64&ssl=1)
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize annually in spring. Pinch foliage to control growth. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
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Good choice for containers, edges in bog, natural, shade, woodland gardens and water feature margins, shorelines. Very invasive; plant in buried or submerged containers. Pest and disease resistant.
Warning:
Due to its very invasive habit, marsh trefoil is a prohibited plant in some governmental jurisdictions.