Water Lilies are common deep water plants. They are planted in containers that sit on the bottom of the pond and produce leaves and stunning flowers on the surface in the summer. There are many different varieties. Do not be tempted to over plant, they grow rapidly and can soon swamp a small pond. For good water lily care remember water lilies do not like splashing water or rapidly moving water. The water lilies often tend to like deep water.
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Water Lilies (Nymphaea) are one of the most popular aquatic plants for water gardening. Their leaves and colorful blooms spread across the pond as they float on the surface of the water. Their ability to flower throughout the entire season makes them a very desirable plant for the pond.
Lilies are typically sold bare root or planted in a pot. If your pond has been installed with plant pockets, you may plant the lily directly into the soil. If there are no plant pockets in the pond, set the potted lily so the crown is about 12" to 18" below the surface. Usually the second shelf in the pond will be an adequate depth for lilies. It is good practice to fertilize all lilies monthly using aquatic fertilizer tabs. Fertilizing in combination with at least 2 hours of sunshine will increase the amount of flowers the plant will produce. Aquatic fertilizer tabs can be purchased at any nursery or garden center that carries aquatic plants. Follow the manufacturer's directions regarding application of fertilizer. |
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Hardy Lilies: hardy lilies can remain in the pond year round. The lily will die off in the winter and produce new leaves and flowers in the spring. The hardy lily generally flowers from May through September. Flowers come in a variety of colors, opening in the early morning and closing in the late afternoon |
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Tropical Lilies: tropical lilies can be planted when the water temperature reaches above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They are usually treated as annuals, but can be brought inside over the winter time with some success. Tropical lilies usually have very vibrantly colored flowers. The tropicals will begin to bloom when the water temperature rises consistently above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It will take the tropicals longer then the hardies to flower, but the tropicals will flower later into the fall. Tropical lilies are separated into two groups: day bloomers and night bloomers. Day bloomers are similar to hardies. They flower from early morning until late afternoon. Night bloomers, however, begin to bloom at dusk and continue to flower through the evening. Night bloomers usually appeal to the gardener whose job is during the day. |
Marginals
Marginals are planted in containers set in shallow water on shelves around the pond margins. Marginals are usually grass-like plants that strut their stuff in shallow areas no deeper than 6” that border the water garden. They also do well in mud. Cattail, bamboo, rush, papyrus, iris, sweet flag, marsh marigold, bullrushes and arrow head and many other plants fall into the family of marginals and grow best with a minimum of at least three hours of sun.
Hardy Marginal Plants (do best with 2" of water over crown) |
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Bog Lily, Crinum americanum – Swamp Lily, long dark green stalks with outstanding large, white flowers which bloom in spring and summer. Reaches heights of 24”.
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Corkscrew Rush, Juncus spp. - Grows well in semi-shade or sun, stiff spiraling stems which reach a height of 20" |
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Creeping Jenny, Lysimachia numularia - trailing plant produces strands of yellow-green round leaves and produces bright yellow flowers in midsummer, full sun. |
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Horsetail, Equisetum hyemale - Segmented stems offer unique bamboo-like leaves. A must! |
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Iris, Blue Flag, Iris versicolor - Attractive foliage and blue flowers; does well in and out of pond. |
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Iris, Yellow Water Iris, Iris pseudacorus - Broad, sword-like leaves; bright yellow flowers; aggressive. |
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Lizard's Tail, Saururus cernuus - distinctive heart-shaped leaves and a curved or drooping raceme with many white, inconspicuous flowers. 3’ h. |
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Marsh Mallow, Hibiscus militaris - Plate-sized white flowers with red center; native hibiscus! |
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Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris - Glossy, rounded leaves; buttercups in profusion; early dormancy. |
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Monkey Flower, Mimulus ringens - Lavender-blue flowers all summer; shiny foliage to 2' h; Nice! |
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Parrot Feather, Myriophyllum proserpinaroides - Delicate, feathery leaves form dense whorls. |
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Pickerel Weed, Pontederia cordata - Grows 18"-24" tall and grows vigorously in part shade to full sun, lavender flower spike. |
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Rush(s), Juncus spp. – corkscrew, blunt flowered, spike, picheral, zebra, bull |
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Sedge(s), Carex spp. - Grass-like. Nice selections from native and introduced; also for pond edge. |
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Star Grass, Dichromena colorata - An evergreen sedge, grows 12"-18" tall preferring full sun to part shade, produces star shaped bracts at its stem tips in summer months. |
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Swamp Milkweed, A. incarnate – flower that is shaped rather like an hourglass, grows 4’ height and loved by monarch butterflies. |
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Sweetflag, Variegated, Acorus calamus - Nice creamy variegation on sword-like leaves to 3' h., semi shade conditions |
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Water Forget-Me-Not, Myosotis scorpioides 'M. Palustris - colorful plant may grow from 4"-24" tall, long flowering period of May through September making it a must have for any water gardening enthusiast. |
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Water Plantain, Alisma plantago-aquatica - Broad leaves and towering stiff stems with tiny white flowers; 3' h. |
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Water Poppy, Hydocleys nymphoides - Thick oval, floating deep green leaves; light yellow flowers. |
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Water Snowflake, Nymphoides spp. Small heart-shaped, floating leaves; delicate white flowers. |
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Zebra Rush, Scipus lancustris - Bears thick cream banded stems of 3-6 feet tall, grown in sun to part shade and should be divided in the spring every two years. Note: Entirely green stems should be removed to prevent a reversion to a green form of this rush. |
Hardy Marginal Plants (do best with 6" of water over crown) |
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Arrow Arum, Peltandra virginica - Produces glossy, arrow-shaped leaves that are very fleshy. |
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Bogbean, Menyanthes trifoliata - Interesting foliage on creeping root stalks; fringed white flowers. |
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Cattail, Typha spp. - Nice dwarf selections recommended; Typha gracilis is awesome! |
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Floating Heart, Nymphoides peltata - Yellow fringed buttercup-like flowers; floating heart-shaped leaf. |
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Hawthorne, Water, Aponogeton distachyus - Dark green strap-like leaves; nice white late blooming flowers. |
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Rush, Pickerel, Pontederia cordata - Finest hardy aquatic! Shiny foliage with blue flower spikes. |
Tropical Marginal Plants (do best with 2" of water over crown) |
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Chinese Water Chestnut, Eleocharis tuberose - 2' - Bright green hollow stems illuminate in the sun. Tubers are edible and have a sweet flavor. Can be eaten raw or cooked. |
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Papyrus, Dwarf, Cyperus haspan var. viviparous - A miniature Papyrus with round "mop" heads on 2' plants. |
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Society Garlic, Tulbaghia violarea 'Variegata' - Cream variegation on Allium-like foliage; in or out of pond. |
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Sweetflag, Japanese, Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' - Chartreuse and cream iris-like leaves to 6" tall. Zone 6. |
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Taro, Colocasia spp. - Unique large leaves make for excellent center piece. 'Black Magic' is particularly nice. Elephant Ear can grow to 8’ height. |
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Umbrella Palm, Cyperus alternifolius - Flat, grassy umbrella-like heads of leaves to 3-5" tall. |
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Water Calla Lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica, 2-3 feet in height, produces tall fragrant flowers surrounded by shiny arrow-shaped leaves. |
Tropical Marginal Plants (do best with 6" of water over crown) |
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Arrowhead, Sagittaria spp. - Distinctive arrow-like leaves; white flower spikes to 2' high. |
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Canna, Variegated, Canna americanallis - Yellow stripes against olive green stems; orange-red flowers, 4-5’ h. |
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Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis - Fiery red flowers on 2-4' stems; enjoys very shallow conditions. |
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Lotus, Nelumbo lutea - Huge soft leaves held high above the water, and often massive blooming flowers held above the leaves.
Lotus prefer a sunny area and to be heavily fed during their flowering period. Usually sold as bareroot. Hardy lotus available. |
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Thalia, Thalia dealbata - Tropical appearance with large, erect ovate blue-green leaves bearing a spike of small violet flowers on the end of each leaf, reaches heights of 3-6 feet. |
Oxygenators
Oxygenators are essential plants for keeping the pond healthy. Some are rooted, but most simply float in the water, absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen as they grow. Since they multiply fairly rapidly, start with a few small clumps and be prepared to cull the plants ruthlessly as they spread. Simply hook out excess growth with a garden rake and put it on your compost heap. |
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Anacharis, Elodea canadensis (South American waterweed ) - One of the best producing oxygenators |
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Moneywort, Lysimachia nummularia - Small rounded leaves carpet the water sides of pond. |
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Water Milfoil, Myriophyllum spp. - Delicate, fern-like foliage, can be invasive. |
Floaters
Floaters are flowering plants that simply float on the pond. This group of plants does not require soil to grow - they get their nutrients from the water. Floating plants like duckweed and water lettuce move freely across the water surface and provide algae-suppressing shade. They also act as natural filters removing toxins from the water. Free floating plants grown in warm climates will need to be thinned regularly; some are so invasive they have been outlawed in some states. |
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Duckweed, Lemnaceae - Bright green blanket of three-leafed plants, grow rapidly. Each plant has its own root system. Smallest flowering plant. Fish will readily eat duckweed. Treat as an annual. Can be very invasive. |
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Fairy Moss, Azolla caroliniana -Thick lacy carpet of floating bluish-green foliage. |
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Frogbit, (Water Poppy), Limnobium spongia - Bright 1" green leaves with small white flowers during summer. Resembles a tiny water lily. Ideal for small ponds. Treat as an annual. |
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Pennywort, Hydrocotyle spp. - Leaves are round with bluntly rounded toothed margins, up to 2 ½”. Flowers are borne on separate stalks as tall or taller than the leaves. Flowers are white to greenish-white. |
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Salvinia, Salvinia rotundifolia - Rather broad, pale green floating foliage on slender stems, with trailing roots. Aquatic fern. Leaves are about 1/4" across. Grows well in shade. Treat as an annual. |
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Water Lettuce, Pistia stratiotes - Floating shell-like rosettes of pulpy leaves, green plant resembling a lettuce floating on the surface. Roots are feathery and great for spawning fish. Prefers shade. Reproduces rapidly. Treat as an annual. |
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Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes 'Major'’ - Shiny dark green leaves with expanded pseudo bulbs and showy lavender flowers. |
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Water Sensitive Plant, Neptunia aquatica - Fern-like leaves are dark green. When touched, leaves close. Grows via tubers on the surface of the water. Grow in full sun or partial shade. Treat as an annual. |
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Water Snowflake, Nymphoides sp - Heart shaped leaves, clusters of bright, white flowers, each lasting a few days. Treat as an annual. |
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Water Clover, Marsilea mutica - produces small four-leafed clovers, grown sun to part shade. |
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