Assorted aquatic plants: Variety in a pond to brighten your day.
A pond without fish is unthinkable. A pond without aquatic plants is also unthinkable for any normal garden pond designed to add beauty and value. Aquatic plants can only help the overall health of a fish pond.
These 3 pictures identify types of aquatic plants commonly associated with garden ponds. They are types 1 to 3 discussed below. Take note of the position of roots and leaves of these aquatic plants
These 3 aquatic plants are types 4 to 6 described below.
Each of these types of aquatic plant 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 aquatic plants). Take note of the position of roots and leaves of these aquatic plants
Aquatic plants - 6 types
| Types | Basics |
| Water lilies (aquatic plants: type 1) | Deep water aquatic plants that root strongly in bottom of pond. Leaves float on water surface. |
| Oxygenators (aquatic plants: type 2) | Totally submerged aquatic plants. These water garden plants can never exist out of water. They root or float rootless under water. |
| Floating (aquatic plants: type 3) | These aquatic plants are small to medium and move freely in the pond. |
| Partly emerging (aquatic plants: type 4) | Aquatic plants like these root into mud and show strong growth and flowers project out of the water. |
| Marginals (aquatic plants: type 5) | The longest list of aquatic plants. These aquatic plants generally do not like drying out. |
| Bog plants (aquatic plants: type 6) | Similar to group 6 aquatic plants. Wet mud is all that is required for these aquatic plants to do well. |
Aquatic 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 aquatic plants than the classical water lilly.
You only have to look at a couple of the many books on aquatic plants and in everyone you will see pictures of lily ponds displaying often a wide variety of aquatic plants.
When I think of water gardening I think water and fish first. Is your vision the same or do aquatic plants come uppermost? It matters not of course there is room for fish and aquatic 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). Aquatic 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.
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 aquatic 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 aquatic plants from the wild can introduce disease into your pond. The different categories of aquatic plants can be accessed by following the links.