Bogbean
Menyanthes trifoliata
Also listed as Menyanthes americana, Menyanthes latifolia
Also known as Buckbean, Marsh Trefoil, Bog Buckbean
Climate Match for your location
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A wetland perennial with distinctive three-lobed leaves and delicate white or pink flowers in spring. Best grown in consistently wet conditions such as bog gardens or pond margins.
Why grow it
Bogbean establishes readily in permanently waterlogged sites where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for stabilizing wet margins and shallow pond edges. Its spring flowers and distinctive trifoliate foliage provide visual interest in a season when bog plantings can appear sparse. Unlike some shallow-water alternatives, it tolerates both acidic and neutral soils common to peat-based wetlands.
Watch out for
The plant spreads moderately through rhizomes and may need periodic division to prevent overcrowding in smaller bog gardens. In very sheltered or stagnant water conditions, the rhizomes can rot if oxygen levels drop significantly; moving water or periodic draining helps prevent this.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Menyanthaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern Hemisphere temperate regions
Native to: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A wetland perennial with distinctive three-lobed leaves and delicate white or pink flowers in spring. Best grown in consistently wet conditions such as bog gardens or pond margins.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Bogbean grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Bogbean establishes readily in permanently waterlogged sites where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for stabilizing wet margins and shallow pond edges. Its spring flowers and distinctive trifoliate foliage provide visual interest in a season when bog plantings can appear sparse. Unlike some shallow-water alternatives, it tolerates both acidic and neutral soils common to peat-based wetlands.
Watch out for
The plant spreads moderately through rhizomes and may need periodic division to prevent overcrowding in smaller bog gardens. In very sheltered or stagnant water conditions, the rhizomes can rot if oxygen levels drop significantly; moving water or periodic draining helps prevent this.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Menyanthaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern Hemisphere temperate regions
Native to: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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