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A Beginner’s Guide to Pond Plants

    Plants add beauty to your pond, softening the edges and adding color in the form of waterlilies and other flowers.

    Here’s what you need to know as you get started on your water gardening journey.

    Some Terms to Know

    Hardy vs. Tropical: A plant that’s categorized as hardy (perennial) will survive the winter outdoors. A plant that’s tropical (annual) will either need to be brought indoors or replaced in the spring.

    Waterlilies like to have their roots submerged in deep water while their leaves and flowers float to the surface.

    Lily-like plants grow in conditions similar to those of waterlilies.

    Lotus tower above the surface of your pond, showing off their large, colorful flowers.

    Marginals grow in moist soil, shallow water, streams and bogs. This category encompasses a huge variety of pond plants.

    Other plants grow submerged underwater or floating freely on the water’s surface.

    Basic Pond Plant Care

    Most of our pond maintenance plans include plant care. Here are some tasks we might perform as part of your service:

    • Plant pruning
    • Plant fertilization
    • Plant division

    Picking Plants for Your Pond

    So what kind of plant is best for your pond? The short answer: All of them.

    Each type of plant in your Ecosystem Pond takes a different kind of nutrient out of the water. A blue plant will take up one kind, while a red one will eat another. A floating plant will absorb a different kind than a marginal one will. String algae can’t survive if other plants are taking all of the nutrients out of the pond, so the more and wider variety of plants you have, the better.

    Curious about your options, or want to learn more about a specific type of plant? Check out this catalog from our friends at Splash Plants.