An attractive floating plant with upright vertical leaves that is perfect for resting habitat, for example frogs, toads and newts they also provide shelter for fish. The water soldiers produce a small white flower from June through to August which attract pollinating insects like ladybirds and lacewings. They will need to be in the deeper part of the pond preferably in half a metre of water or deeper. During the summer they will float to the surface of the water, and during the winter they will sink to the bottom of the pond rising again the following spring.