Basic Aquatic Plant Types
Look beyond waterlilies and lotuses…

Besides the obvious waterlily and lotus choices that beginning water gardeners might be instinctively
drawn to, there are a wealth of other plant types to choose from. Floaters and bottom dwellers, as well as an endless variety of plants that grow in the shadows, provide something for everyone. The only rule is … No rules. Try anything you like. Many people are surprised to find their favorite terrestrial garden plants grow just as well partially submerged in a shallow garden pond. Explore the possibilities. They are endless.

Underwater Plants

Underwater plants live out of sight and don’t contribute a great deal to aesthetics, but they do offer a variety of other benefits. They filter toxins from the water, such as fish waste and salts, that contribute to algae growth. These plants also provide supplementary food for pond fish who nibble on their tender roots and foliage, keeping the plants pruned. And they add oxygen to the water during daylight hours. However, since these plants feed off that same oxygen at night, they are not recommended as a substitute for mechanical aeration. If your pond contains fish, you will need to supply supplemental oxygen 24 hours a day.

Free-floating plants, whose roots hang suspended in the water, also add elements of beauty and function to a garden or patio pond. Water hyacinth, fairy moss, water lettuce and common duckweed are some of the most commonly used plants, which filter toxins from the water and add oxygen to a pond’s chemistry, much like submerged plants. These plants require still areas of water to grow and multiply and can often take over the entire pond surface. They can be easily skimmed off the surface and kept thinned out.

Thinned plants need to be disposed of properly to prevent damage to the local environment. Seal them tightly in a plastic bag with no water inside and place them in a trash bin where they will be transported to a local landfill.

Marginal Plants

Marginal plants fall into the general category of plants that can be planted in the shallows of a garden pond, partially submerged in water. Grasses, reeds, rushes and a variety of other bulbous plants like irises and calla lilies fall into this versatile category. Mixing vertical, spiky marginals like sweet flag and iris with low growing, softer plants like moneywort and varieties of arum creates a natural border that enhances the garden pond environment.

Combinations are endless and offer room for experimentation. Have a garden favorite? Try it as a marginal. Some of these plants grow as well in ponds as they do in dry flowerbeds. This adaptable group ranges from a few inches tall to over 8 feet. Many, like the common canna, are so varied and
vibrant in their coloration that they compete for attention with even the most breath taking waterlilies and lotuses.

Bog Plants

Bog plants like wet feet and are often planted around the damp periphery of garden ponds. They require either very shallow standing water or very wet conditions. Bog gardens are often created with leftover flexible liner or shallow earthen trenches made to collect rain water or overflowing pond water.

A wide variety of plants grow well in bog conditions, including commonly available bulbous perennials, milkweed, lobelia, primrose, mallow, spirea and most varieties of ferns. Many marginal plants do well in these areas, as well.

These plants are often added to a garden or patio pond to attract wildlife. Butterflies, moths, frogs and turtles are often drawn to marshy areas when inviting plants are present. You may even want to create just a bog garden filled with only these plants. The wealth of wildlife they attract brings the beauty of mother nature right into the backyard, and what could be better than that?