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  you are in: JUST ADD WATER > CREATING YOUR POND > PLANTS 



Just Add Water

Creating your pond: plants

Planning for plants  
If you can’t wait for your pond to colonise naturally, then get cuttings from trusted local garden ponds (with permission). 

Alternatively, you could plant up your pond, making some careful choices. Avoid at all costs non-native species, many of which could have a detrimental impact on local wildlife.

It can be tricky to locate suitable sources of native pond plants. Some garden centres and other retail outlets are unclear about the origin of their plants. Do your research and consider buying native plants online (e.g. Flora Locale or Naturescape):


Further information about harmful non-natives see Defra's Be Plant Wise campaign or information by Plantlife.

Common native water plants suitable for small garden ponds:

O Deeper water (submerged and
oxygenating plants):
O Marginal plants: (shallows and edges)
Common water-crowfoot Ranunculus aquatilis Amphibious bistort Persicaria amphibia
Common water-starwort Callitriche stagnalis Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliatea*
Curled pondweed Potamogeton crispus Brooklime Veronica beccabunga
Rigid hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum Creeping Jenny Lysimachia nummularia
Spiked water-milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum Cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis
Water violet Hottonia palustris Flowering rush Butomus umbellatus
Willow moss Fontinalis antipyretica Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae
  Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus
  Lesser pond sedge Carex aucuparia
O Floating-leaved plants: Lesser spearwort Ranunculus flammula
Broad-leaved pondweed Potamogeton natans Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris
Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Fringed waterlily Nymphaea peltata* Rushes Juncus spp.
White waterlily Nymphaea alba* Soft rush Juncus effusus
Yellow waterlily Nuphar lutea* Water-forget-me-not Myosotis scorpioides
  Water mint Mentha aquatica
  Water-plantain Alisma plantago-aquatica
  Yellow flag iris Iris pseudacorus*
*For larger ponds only as these plants can dominate

NOTE: There are certain non-native pond plants that should be left well alone:

O Curly pondweed Lagarosiphon major (or Elodea crispa)
O Floating pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
O New Zealand water stonecrop Crassula helmsii (also sold as Crassula recurva, New Zealand pygmyweed, Australian swamp-stonecrop, Tillaea recurva and Tillaea helmsii
O Nuttall’s and Canadian pondweed Elodea spp. 
O Parrot-feather Myriophyllum aquaticum
O Water fern Azolla filiculoides
O Water-primrose Ludwigia grandiflora  


More on:
O Planting up your pond.





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