Wetland Plants
at Dunsany
Wetland plants at Dunsany thrive in saturated soils, filtering water, stabilising banks, and supporting diverse wildlife in the estate’s wetland habitats.
The Importance of wetland plants in Rewilding
Wetland plants play a crucial role in rewilding by restoring the natural functions of waterlogged habitats. Their root systems filter and purify water, trapping sediments and removing pollutants, which improves water quality across the ecosystem.
They stabilise riverbanks and pond edges, reducing erosion and protecting surrounding landscapes. By creating structurally diverse vegetation, wetland plants provide essential breeding grounds, food sources, and shelter for a wide range of species, including birds, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish.
In Dunsany Estate, these plants help re-establish our healthy, self-sustaining wetlands, boosting biodiversity, increasing carbon sequestration, and building resilience to flooding.
Learn about the wetland plants in Dunsany Estate
Wetland Plants in Dunsany Estate
Fool's-water-cress (Apium nodiflorum)
Grows up to 80 cm tall
Perennial species
Flowers from July to September
Small white blooms with five petals
Found in muddy habitats beside lakes, rivers, streams, and ditches
Irish name: Gunna uisce
Wetland Plants in Dunsany Estate
New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii)
Perennial species
Tiny white flowers with four petals
Invasive, first recorded in the 1980s from Oceania
Grows on inland water surfaces, forming dense, floating carpets
Wetland Plants in Dunsany Estate
Common Spike-rush (Eleocharis palustris)
Widespread species
Grows up to 60 cm tall
Flowers from May to July
Distinctive brown spikelet
Found along the edges of ponds and marshes
Wetland Plants in Dunsany Estate
Floating Sweet-grass (Glyceria fluitans)
Widespread species
Grows 40–100 cm tall
Perennial
Flowers from May to August
Found at the edges or in shallow areas of slow-moving water
Irish name: Milseán uisce
Wetland Plants in Dunsany Estate
Common Duckweed (Lemna minor)
Perennial species
Flowers from June to July, though rarely produces blooms
Found in slow-moving waters
Irish name: Ros lachan
Wetland Plants in Dunsany Estate
Water-cress (Nasturtium officinale)
Perennial species
Flowers from June to September
Small white blooms with 3–4 petals
Found in streams and ditches
Irish name: Biolar
Traditionally regarded in folklore as a cure for lunacy
Edible and sometimes used in salads
Wetland Plants in Dunsany Estate
Branched Bur-reed (Sparganium erectum)
Grows up to 1 metre tall
Flowers from July to September
Spherical flower heads, yellow with black tips
Found in slow-moving water
Irish name: Rísheisc
