17 Beautiful Pond Plants (Easy to Grow)

Introduction

One way to make your pond more beautiful and healthy is to add pond plants. Pond plants are plants that grow in or near water. They can have many benefits for your pond, such as:

• Adding oxygen to the water
• Reducing algae growth
• Providing shade and shelter for fish and other animals
• Attracting birds, butterflies, and bees
• Enhancing the appearance of your pond

There are many kinds of pond plants that you can choose from. Some are floating on the surface, some are submerged under the water, and some are growing on the edges. Some are easy to grow and some need more care. Some are colorful and some are green. Some are native to your area and some are exotic.

In this article, we will introduce you to 17 beautiful pond plants that are easy to grow.

17 Easy-to-Grow Pond Plants

Water lily (Nymphaea spp.)

A water lily is a beautiful flower that grows in a pond. It has big leaves that float on the water and colorful petals that open in the sun. Water lilies help keep the pond clean and healthy by giving oxygen to the water and shelter to the fish and frogs.

To take care of a water lily, you need to plant it in a big pot with soil and gravel. Then you need to put the pot in a sunny spot in the pond, about one or two feet deep. If you live in a cold place, you may need to take the pot out of the pond and store it in a frost-free place during winter.

Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.)

Arrowhead is a plant that grows in ponds. It has green leaves that look like arrows and white flowers that smell nice.

Arrowhead helps keep the water clean and gives oxygen to the fish.

If you want to grow arrowheads in your pond, you need to follow some steps.

1. Find a spot in your pond that gets enough sunlight and has a depth of about 10 inches.
2. Plant arrowhead roots in the soil at the bottom of the pond.
3. Remove any weeds or algae that might grow around it.
4. Fertilize the plant once a month with a special pond fertilizer.
5. Prune the plant if it gets too big or covers too much of the water surface.

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)

Pickerelweed has long green leaves and purple flowers that look like spikes. Pickerelweed is good for ponds because it helps clean the water and gives shelter to fish and frogs. Pickerelweed also attracts bees and butterflies that pollinate other plants.

To grow pickerelweed in your pond:

• Plant it in a pot with soil and gravel.
• Put the pot in the water so that the leaves are above the surface.\
• Make sure your pond gets enough sunlight and has enough space for the pickerelweed to spread.

Pickerelweed does not need to be fertilized.

You can trim the leaves and flowers if they get too big or if they start to die.

Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)

Horsetail is a plant that grows near water. It has long green stems that look like a horse’s tail. Horsetail is good for ponds because it helps keep the water clean and clear. It also gives shelter to fish and other animals.

Horsetail can also help control erosion along pond edges and provide shelter for aquatic life.

To take care of horsetail, you need to plant it in a pot with soil and gravel. Then you can put the pot in the pond, but not too deep. The stems should stick out of the water. You also need to trim the stems when they get too long or brown.

Cattail (Typha spp.)

Cattail is a plant that grows near water. It has long green leaves and brown flowers that look like fuzzy sausages. Cattail helps keep the water clean and gives shelter to animals like frogs and birds.

To care for cattail, you need to plant it in a big pot with soil and gravel. Put it in a sunny spot and make sure the water level is above the soil. Trim the leaves and flowers when they get too big or messy.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Water Hyacinth is a plant that floats on water. It has pretty purple flowers and green leaves. It can grow in ponds and lakes. Water Hyacinth can help clean the water and make oxygen for fish. But it can also grow too much and block the sunlight and air for other plants and animals.

To care for Water Hyacinth, remove some of it when it covers more than half of the pond. You also need to protect it from frost in winter. You can put it in a bucket with water and keep it indoors until spring.

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Water lettuce is a plant that floats on water. It has green leaves that look like lettuce. It can grow in ponds and lakes. Water lettuce is good for ponds because it gives shade and oxygen to the water. It also helps keep the water clean by taking up nutrients that algae need.

To take care of water lettuce, make sure it has enough sunlight and warm water. Remove some of the plants if they grow too much and cover the whole pond. You can use scissors or your hands to cut or pull out some of the plants. Be careful not to damage the roots or the leaves.

Giant waterlily (Victoria spp.)

Giant waterlily is a very big and beautiful plant that grows on water. It has round leaves that can be green or purple and big flowers that can be white or pink.

Giant waterlily like warm and sunny places and needs a lot of space to grow.

To care for giant waterlily, plant them in a big pot with soil and fertilizer and put it in the deepest part of the pond. You need to change the water often and keep it clean. You need to protect it from cold weather and animals that might eat it.

Fairy Moss (Azolla spp.)

Fairy moss is a tiny plant that floats on the water. It has green leaves and red roots. It can grow very fast and cover the whole pond. Some people like fairy moss because it makes the pond look pretty and it gives food and shelter to fish and frogs. Other people don’t like fairy moss because it blocks the sunlight and uses up the oxygen in the water.

If you want to grow fairy moss in your pond, you need to take care of it. Here are some tips:

• Don’t put too much fairy moss in your pond. A little bit is enough. You can use a net or a rake to remove some of it if it gets too crowded.
• Don’t let the fairy moss dry out. It needs water to survive. If the weather is hot or windy, you can spray some water on it to keep it moist.
• Don’t let the fairy moss freeze. It can’t live in very cold temperatures. If the winter is harsh, you can move some of it indoors or cover it with a plastic sheet.

Bluebells (Campanula rotundifolia)

Bluebells are pretty flowers that grow near ponds. They have blue or purple petals that look like bells. They like to have moist soil and some shade. They can grow in pots or in the ground.

To take care of bluebells, water them every week and remove any weeds that might compete with them. You can also add some compost or fertilizer to help them grow better. Bluebells are good for attracting bees and butterflies to your pond.

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)

Marsh marigold is a pretty yellow flower that grows near water. It can make your pond look nice and bright.

Marsh marigold like to have wet soil and some shade. It does not like too much sun or heat. You can plant marsh marigold in the spring or fall.

You should dig a hole in the ground near your pond and put the plant in it. Then you should cover the roots with soil and water them well. You should also cut off any dead flowers or leaves to keep it healthy.

Marsh marigold is a good plant for your pond edges because it attracts bees and butterflies. It also helps clean the water by taking out some of the bad stuff.

Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides)

Water forget-me-not is a pretty flower that grows near water. It has small blue petals and yellow centers. It likes to have wet roots and lots of sunlight.

If you want to grow water forget-me-not in your pond, you need to plant it in a pot with soil and gravel. Then you can put the pot in the shallow part of the pond, where the water is not too deep.

You can also cut some stems and float them in the water. They will grow roots and make more flowers. Water forget-me-not helps keep the water clean and gives shelter to fish and frogs.

Water mint (Mentha aquatic)

Water mint is a kind of plant that grows near water. It has small purple flowers and smells good. You can plant water mint in your pond to make it look nice and attract bees and butterflies.

To care for water mint, give it enough water and sunlight. You also need to cut off the dead parts and remove any weeds that grow around them.

Water mint can be invasive, so you might need to move some of it to another place if it gets too crowded.

Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Yellow flag iris is a pretty plant that grows near water. It has yellow flowers that look like flags. You can plant it in your pond to make it look nice.

To care for it, give it enough water and sunlight. You also need to cut off the dead leaves and flowers. You should not let it grow too much or it will crowd out other plants.

Sweetflag (Acorus calamus)

Sweetflag is a plant that grows in water. It has long green leaves and a brown stem. It can grow up to 1 meter tall. It likes to have a lot of sun and a lot of water.

To care for sweetflag, plant it in a pot with soil and gravel. Then put the pot in the pond so that the water covers the soil. You can also plant it directly in the mud at the bottom of the pond. You need to make sure that the water is not too deep or too cold for the plant.

Trim the leaves of sweetflag if they get too long or yellow. You can also divide the plant if it gets too big. You can do this by cutting the stem into pieces and planting them separately. You should do this in spring or summer when the plant is growing.

Sweetflag is a good plant for your pond because it can attract birds and butterflies. It can also make your pond smell nice because it has a sweet scent.

Parrot’s Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)

Parrot’s feather grows in water and has green leaves that look like feathers. Some people like to have parrot’s feather in their ponds because it makes the water look pretty and clean.

But parrot’s feather can also be a problem. It can grow too much and cover the whole pond. Then it blocks the sunlight and makes it hard for other plants and animals to survive. Parrot’s feather can also spread to other places where it does not belong. That is why some places do not allow people to plant parrot’s feather.

If you want to have parrot’s feather in your pond, you need to take care of it. Plant it in a pot or a basket so it does not spread too much. You need to give it enough sunlight and fertilizer so it stays healthy. Trim it every week so it does not grow over the water. You need to check if it is legal to plant parrot’s feather in your area before you do it.

Spider Lily (Hymenocallis spp.)

Spider Lily is a kind of flower that grows near water. It has long green leaves and white petals that look like spider legs. Spider Lily can make your pond look pretty and attract bees and butterflies.

If you want to grow Spider Lily in your pond, you need to follow some steps.

1. Find a sunny spot in your pond where the water is not too deep.
2. Plant the Spider Lily bulbs in a pot with soil and gravel.
3. Lower the pot into the water until it is about 6 inches below the surface.
4. Add some fertilizer once a month.

Spider Lily is easy to take care of, but you need to watch out for some things. Sometimes, snails or insects might eat the leaves or flowers. You can use natural ways to get rid of them, like putting crushed eggshells around the pot. Also, Spider Lily might spread too much and crowd other plants. You can trim the leaves or divide the bulbs to control the growth.

Spider Lily is a beautiful and useful plant for your pond. It can make your pond more colorful and lively. It can also help clean the water and provide oxygen for fish. Spider Lily is a good choice if you want to have a pond with flowers.

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