Water Gardening: Plants for the Water Garden s with any garden, plants are while providing spawning areas for to use carbon dioxide and give off the focal point and reason fish and frogs. Other wildlife enjoy oxygen. Plant functions add to pond for the water garden. Among marginal plants as they drink from the water quality, balancing nature and Athe benefits of water gardening are pond. Blooms attract butterflies and contributing to enjoyment. The water attracting wildlife, the sound of beneficial insects. garden needs several types of plants moving water and the beauty. The to be successful. Plants are the best A shaded water surface helps inhibit wide variety of water plants lend color, filtration and oxygenating element the photosynthesis of algae. There artistic grace, and interest to the pond. in the biological balance of the pond. should be enough plants that leaves Check with your aquatic garden center An important aspect of water cover 50 to 70 percent of the water for a complete list of plants available. plants is their contribution to the surface. More plants may be needed pond’s ecosystem. Plants compete for ponds less than 1,000 gallons or in By nature, water plants are vigorous for nutrients that would otherwise sunny locations, and fewer for larger growers. Blooming plants require feed algae. Plants shade the pond, or more shaded ones. Plants have the fertilization for optimal flower which reduces water temperature ability, in combination with light, production. Water plants feed on the Submerged Plants Common Name Botanical Name Growing Depth Winter Care Cabomba Cabomba caroliniana 6–24” deep Difficult to winter Egeria densus or Trim tops Anacharis 6–24” deep Elodia canadensis before winter Dwarf Sag Sagittaria sublulata (underwater turf ) 6–24” deep or natans Ribbon Sag Jungle Val 24–48” deep Trim tops Corkscrew Val Valisneria 5–10” deep before winter Italian Val 18–24” deep Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service Marginal Plants Common Name Botanical Name Comments Depth and Size Cut back in winter. Sink pots 12" below 18" deep; Hardy Water Canna Thalia dealbata waterline; cut back stiff height 48–60" stems above water line. Purple flowers. Cut back in winter Varigated Society and sink 12" below 2 inches deep; Tulbaghia Garlic waterline. height 8–18" Violet flowers. Cut back in winter 12" below waterline. 6-10” deep; Lizard Tail Saururus Cut stiff stems above height 12–24" waterline. White flowers. Cut back and sink to 12" below waterline. 12-18" deep; Pickerel Pontederia Blue/pink/white height 24–36" flowers. Myosotis Aquatic Blue, pink and white 1" deep; Palustris Forget-Me-Nots flowers. height 4–6" Cut back in winter. 1–8" deep; Water Willow Justicia Americana Lavender/pink height 16–30" flowers. Cut back in winter. 1" as a marginal or Parrot Feather Palustris Lower than 12" can be submerged; below the waterline. height 6" Cut back in winter. 1" deep or bog; Water Celery Oenanthe javanica White flowers. height 6–8" Cut back in winter, coccineus swamp sink 12" below water- 1–6" deep; Hibiscus line. Cut stiff stems moscheutos marsh height 72–108" mallow above waterline. Red, pink or white flowers. Cut back in winter 1–4" deep; Pennywort Hydrocotyle and sink 12" below height 2–6" the waterline. same nutrients as algae. The more Submerged Aquatics Marginal Plants nutrients water plants consume, the less Marginal plants are planted around Sometimes submerged aquatics algae are able to compete and flourish. pond edges to naturalize borders, are referred to as oxygenators. add texture and color, and soften Each species of water plant has Submergible plants live underwater the look of the pond. They may be different depth requirements. This and act as a natural filter contributing planted directly into gravel pockets is great for creating an interesting to the biological balance of a successful or potted. Most will flourish without and diverse garden while providing water garden. Plant one bunch of supplemental fertilization. The 10 filtration at different levels. Deep- submerged aquatics for every 1 to most popular marginal plants, both growing plants like water lilies grow 2 square feet of pond surface to hardy and tropical, are listed on at 24 to 30 inches deep. Shelf plants effectively filter and compete with the previous page. There are many such as lotus and iris grow at 12 to algae. Because they develop roots for more available to fit particular pond 18 inches deep. Marginal plants are anchoring, they do best planted in situations. planted at the edge of the water, 1 to gravel or sand. Do not fertilize. 8 inches deep. Submersibles, such as Floating Plants Note: Anacharis may come in anacharis, live on the bottom of the Floating plants serve two important pond, and floaters on the surface. clusters with a metal band at the bottom for weight. This is to sink functions. They shade the water The following charts contain the plant into the bottom muck for surface and filter the water with their information on popular water plants for self rooting. Leave the band in place. floating root systems. Shade reduces the Midwest and depth requirements. Do not remove it and distribute the amount of photosynthesis, while These are general recommendations. plants individually. Submerged plants roots absorb nutrients, both of which Some shallow-loving plants do fine in work most efficiently if placed near a inhibit algae growth. The most deeper water but may react differently. waterfall or where the water is moving. popular floating plants are listed below. Some deep water plants may do fine in shallower water. Floating Plants Common Name Botanical Name Description Size Green turning red Fairy Moss Azolla caroliniana ½ inch in full sun Narrow, bright Ceratophyllum green leaves with Hornwort 6–24" deep demersum inconspicuous flowers 6–12" height Water Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes Light purple flowers and width Grows in sun but Water Lettuce Pistia stratiotes prefers shade; likes 4–12" height heat Heart-shaped leaf Frogbit Limnobium spongia with small white 1" leaf; ½" height flower Other Lily-Like Aquatics The most popular of the aquatics is the water lily. Other notable hardy aquatics include water hawthorne, Nuphar (spatterdock), and floating heart. Prickly water lily, or gorgon plant, is not hardy, but it produces hardy seeds that drop to the bottom. European frogbit is also self seeding. Water Lily. Water lilies come in many varieties. Plant sizes range from miniature to quite large with flowers from 2 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Hardy lilies have smooth leaf edges and flower mostly in pastel colors. Steps for Re-Potting Water Lilies These day bloomers characteristically • Fill the container one-half to three-fourths full of aquatic mix. have floating leaves and mildly fragrant flowers. The potted plant • Place fertilizer tabs near the bottom of the pot. prefers quiet water at a depth of 24 • Remove the old lily and wash off the soil. inches. To grow truly beautiful lily flowers, the plant requires at least six • Growing crowns are at the tips of the rhizome where new plants emerge. hours of sunlight per day and monthly • Cut 2- to 4-inch sections of the root containing some anchor roots, fine feedings. feeder roots, and the crown. Because lilies have been hybridized • P lace the cut end next to the pot edge below the soil with the crown for performance, it is important to pointing toward the center and up at a 45-degree angle. choose the right lily variety for your pond. Do you need a large, medium • Place three to five crowns in and around the pot, adding aquatic mix to or small variety? Color is another cover most of the rhizome. consideration. • Top with pea gravel and carefully lower into the pond. Hardy lilies go dormant in winter, Tropical lilies have serrated edges and deeper, more vivid color assortments. resting on the bottom of the pond. Some varieties have marmorated leaves streaked with purple and prominent Remove dead foliage and blooms veins. The flower palette includes deep blues, purples, and violets. Tropical regularly to encourage new blooms lilies are fragrant, with flowers rising up to 12 inches above the plant leaves. and keep the pond free of debris. Tropical varieties include both day and night bloomers, some of which can Hardy lilies do best planted in a pot get extremely large. Tropical flowers make good cut flowers and are more 7 inches deep and 16 inches wide with profuse bloomers than hardy varieties. It is important to remember that they no holes. The wide shallow pot allows are warm water plants. Constant 70°F water temperature is necessary before for horizontal growth of the rhizome introducing a tropical lily to your pond. while adding stability to the plant. Tropical lilies are perennial, but not in climates where it freezes in the Plants should be re-potted and divided winter. Tropical plants can be overwintered in the house and treated like a once a year during the growing season, houseplant, keeping them either extremely moist or using an indoor pool. April through August. Aquatic plants Bring plants in before frost and trim aggressively. Do not fertilize during this grow best in heavy clay loam soil. An period. The goal is to keep them alive, not make them flourish. adopted mix is two thirds soil and one Place plants in a waterproof container at a temperature between 50 and third sand. Soil from most lawns is 70°F. Fill the container with water and place in a well lit area. Supplemental acceptable if chemical free. A topping lighting may be necessary; 10 to 16 hours of light per day is required.