Water garden plants marginals, bog plant aquatics

Pondkeeper's How to...

Water plants: Choose from 6 different types, enjoy them all

A pond without water plants is unthinkable for any normal garden pond designed to add beauty and value. Water plants can only help the overall health of a fish pond.

water plants types 1 to 3 These 3 pictures identify types of water plants commonly associated with garden ponds. They are types 1 to 3 discussed below

water plants types 4 to 6 These 3 water plants are types 4 to 6 described below

Each of these types of water plants is briefly described below with much of this information derived from a South African booklet published many years ago without any reference to author or publisher (quite a shame since it is so very useful and well written especially with respect to water plants).

Water plants in any pond can look really beautiful. Everyone knows what the water lilly looks like and all admire these striking water plants. There are of course many other water plants than the classical water lilly.

You only have to look at a couple of the many books on water plants and in everyone you will see pictures of lily ponds displaying often a wide variety of water plants.

When I think of watering I think water and fish first. Is your vision the same or do water plants come uppermost? It matters not of course – there is room for fish and water plants in all ponds.

However I must say that plants are often unpopular in koi ponds (the koi eat them and mess up the water). Water plants in koi ponds tend therefore to occupy an area remote from the fish such as in a small seperate pond between the waterfall and the main pond.

Water plants - 6 types

Types	Basics
Water lilies (water plants: type 1)	Deep water water plants that root strongly in bottom of pond. Leaves float on water surface.
Oxygenators (water plants: type 2)	Totally submerged water plants. These water plants can never exist out of water. They root or float rootless under water.
Floating (water plants: type 3)	These water plants are small to medium and move freely in the pond.
Partly emerging (water plants: type 4)	water plants like these root into mud and show strong growth and flowers project out of the water.
Marginals (water plants: type 5)	The longest list of water plants. These water plants generally do not like drying out.
Bog plants (water plants: type 6)	Similar to group 6 water plants. Wet mud is all that is required for these water plants to do well.

Water plants and koi ponds do not always mix

Nigel Caddock, publisher of the greatest magazine around on koi (and I mean koi and nothing but koi) says only 3 things should appear in any koi pond: water, koi and oxygen. Nigel is of course a little bit biased - but a lovely person.

There are many types of water plants for around a pond and it is always best to get local advice on availability and suitability of any water plants. Be aware that introducing water plants from the wild can introduce disease into your pond. The different categories of water plants can be accessed by following the links.

Special care must be given to your water plants if you live in cold winter climates.