Small hedgehog head (Sparganium emersum) is a native aquatic and riparian plant that can be recognised by its unbranched stem and bulbous flower heads. The female flowers are located at the bottom of the inflorescence and are light green in colour, while the male flowers turn yellow at the top during flowering. The leaves are narrow, gutter-shaped and triangular in section, and can grow either above or below water, depending on conditions.
This plant from the Lisdodidae family is most common along banks of ditches, streams and slow-flowing waters. In clear, nutrient-rich conditions, Little hedgehog's head develops as a vigorous grower. The leaves can grow up to a metre long and are distinctive with dark veins that are clearly visible in backlight. Thanks to this leaf structure, this species stands out well from other hedgehog heads.
Order easily via our partner: Order large water vine at Pond Master.
Little hedgehog head feels best in a sunny to semi-shaded spot in nutrient-rich, stagnant or slightly flowing water. The ideal planting depth is between 10 and 100 cm (in exceptional cases up to 120 cm), with the plant developing both as a riparian plant and as a fully submerged aquatic plant. In flowing water, long, ribbon-like leaves often form, moving with the current.
It prefers to grow in slightly acidic to neutral conditions with a soil of pond soil, clay or substrate. Slightly brackish water is also well tolerated. In calcareous clay soils or when heavily polluted, the plant usually lags in growth or disappears altogether.
The flowering of Little Hedgehog's Head proceeds in a straight main axis, without side branches, with the flower heads neatly superimposed. At the bottom are two to five female flower heads, with several male ones above. During flowering, which runs from June to September, the yellow male flowers are particularly conspicuous. The plant forms small fruits with a firm core. These can spread via currents or by sticking to animals moving along the water's edge.
The plant spreads via rhizomes and can occupy large areas of bank if there is no boundary. In deeper zones or with fluctuating water levels, Little hedgehog head can also grow partially floating, with the stem extending underwater.
The leaves are narrow and gutter-shaped and can become floating in flowing water. The plant grows both upright and with floating stems. A notable landmark is the inflorescence: the globular heads stand directly on the main axis and are not branched, which helps distinguish this species from other hedgehog heads.
Thanks to its robust character, Little hedgehog's head survives the winter period effortlessly, even in prolonged frosts. In autumn, the above-ground parts die off. It is advisable to cut away dead stems in autumn to prevent pond suffocation and maintain water quality. Once temperatures rise, the plant develops new shoots from the rhizome and quickly resumes growth.
Due to its vigorous growth, it is wise to place the plant in a pond basket or divide it annually to avoid overgrowth. This keeps the plant vital and prevents overplanting of the pond edge.
The plant feels at home in ecologically designed ponds, on transition zones between bank and water or in a filter zone with marsh plants. Little hedgehog head contributes to bank retention and, by absorbing nutrients such as nitrate, helps improve water quality and prevent algal blooms. This makes the plant particularly valuable for ecologically designed ponds.
Note: Due to its rapid growth, this plant can spread quickly. To limit growth space, it is wise to place the plant in a pond basket or otherwise demarcate it.
Little Hedgehog Head can be ordered through our sales partner Vijvermeester.nl.
© 2025 Dutch Water Tech. All rights reserved.
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Deutsch 
Français