Landfill leachate taken from a landfill situated in the north-western region of Bulgaria has been treated in a laboratory scale vertical flow constructed wetland (VF-CW) at different flow rates (40, 60 and 82 ml min(-1)) and recirculation ratios (time of water running through wetland to time of quiet water - 1: 1; 1:2; 1:3). Young Phragmites australis was planted on the top layer of the reactor. The low flow rate (40 ml min(-1)) and recirculation ratio of 1:3 allowed removal efficiencies of 96% for COD (in 8 days), 92% for BOD(5) (in 3 days), 100% for ammonia (in 5 days) and 100% for total phosphorus (in 2 days). At the highest flow rate studied (82 ml min(-1)) and shorter quiet period (recirculation ratio 1:1) the water needs longer period of treatment (2 days more according to COD). The results of this study indicate that both flow rate and recirculation ratio should be taken into account for proper design of VF-CW. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.