Aquatic Plants

The most important part of a water garden is the living plants as they are necessary to the well-being of the water garden.

WATER LILIES

These aquatic plants inhabit the deeper, quiet water areas of the water garden producing floating foliage and beautiful blossoms.  Water lilies are grown in containers or planted directly in the garden floor.  Varieties flourish at different depths. 

MARGINAL/BOG

These plants grow in the shallow water at the edge.  They prefer mud or just a few inches of water, but can tolerate periods of flooding.  They will tolerate up to about 6 inches of water cover, but will grow more successfully in shallower water.  These can be grown in containers set on the pond shelf.  They may help in removing nutrients that feed unwanted algae.  These plants are usually planted purely for decoration and have no real bearing on the balance of the water garden. 

FREE FLOATING

 These make a major contribution to the maintenance of the balance in the garden.  These obtain their nourishment from the water and make it difficult for algae to survive by reducing the amount of sunlight falling directly on the water.  Planting consists of merely tossing them on the water’s surface.

SUBMERGED

These maintain healthy, well-oxygenated water for fish and work with floating aquatics by competing with slime and algae for mineral salts, thus almost eliminating algae.  It is recommended that you use one plant for every 2/3 square foot of pond surface.