A pond, small or large, looks prettiest when plants border it, and wildlife prefers the protection they offer. A pond needs plants within it, too, of three kinds: marginal, submergent and floating. Add native pond plants to your shopping list, as they offer both beauty and resilience.
Border plants
These plants border your pond, from right beside to it to farther out. Plant them where you’ll like them best, but don’t forget that their wildlife purpose is to provide cover. So don’t space them all too far apart or too far away from your pond.
Marginal plants
Marginal (emergent) plants have their roots in shallow water, and their shoots are growing above the water. Plant them along the margin, where they’ll offer hiding and mating places, surfaces for eggs and critters to cling to, as well as visual appeal. They’re also suitable for a bog garden.
Submergent plants
Submergent plants, also called oxygenators, live underwater. They’re important to aquatic species — fish, plants, tadpoles and everything else — because they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen just as terrestrial plants do. They help keep water clear and fresh.
Floating plants
Floating plants don’t anchor into the pond’s soil; they’re happy just to float around. They do what oxygenators do, but they aren’t as effective. Their most important role is to provide shade, which reduces the amount of sunlight striking the surface, thereby inhibiting algae growth.
Selecting plants
Selecting plants for your pond involves consideration of several factors, including the size of the pond, the depth of the water, the amount of sunlight, whether the plants will spend the winter in your basement, and more.
Following are lists of native plants suitable for a pond, sorted by type. The border plants listed are moisture-loving, so keep them well watered.
Aquatic plants need to be monitored. Many species can become aggressive and overtake a pond, and they’re difficult to control once they get out of hand. Be especially careful with plant selection if you have open waterways nearby. A good way to control marginal plants is to plant them in 1- to 5-gallon pots (3.8 to 10 l) in soil topped with gravel, then place the pot in the water.
For lots of information about building a pond large, small, or even in a barrel, here’s an excellent site.
BORDER PLANTS - native
P = perennial; G = grass; S = shrub; T = tree
