Marginal Pond Plants

Eleocharis acicularis is dwarf hairgrass, a fine-textured marginal often used to soften pond edges. It forms low grassy mats in shallow water and w...

Filipendula rubra 'Venusta Magnifica' is a large queen of the prairie with tall pink plumes in summer. It is a bold plant for spacious bog gardens ...

Dichromena colorata is star grass, a warm-climate sedge grown for its white bracts that look like starry flowers. It adds contrast in wet container...

Equisetum hyemale is rough horsetail, also sold as Dutch rush. It’s a tough marginal that gives clean vertical lines and stays interesting for most...

Glyceria maxima is reed sweet-grass, a native marginal that builds big clumps fast. It’s useful when you want height, movement, and a natural pond-...

Eleocharis palustris is common spike-rush, a simple, reed-like native for wet soil and shallow water. It’s great for softening pond edges and givin...

Equisetum fluviatile is water horsetail, a native marginal for shallow water and saturated mud. It gives a softer, more open look than Equisetum hy...

Cotula coronopifolia is brass buttons, a low coastal plant that copes well with wet ground and short periods of flooding. It’s a handy filler for b...

Eriophorum russeolum is bronze cotton grass, grown for warm-toned cottony seed heads. It suits acidic bog gardens and looks best where the soil sta...

Carex riparia is greater pond sedge, a tall native sedge for saturated ground and pond margins. It’s a good plant when you need height, cover, and ...

Glyceria maxima var. variegata is variegated reed sweet-grass. It gives the same tall, arching habit as the green form, but with cream striping tha...

Carex pseudocyperus is cyperus sedge, a tall native sedge for pond margins and wet bog soil. It brings arching foliage and dangling flower spikes. ...

Carex pendula is pendulous sedge, a large native sedge for damp shade and wet soil. It forms bold clumps with long drooping flower spikes. Appearan...

Cyperus longus is sweet galingale, a reed like marginal with scented roots. It grows in wet soil and shallow water, forming upright clumps. Appeara...

Epipactis palustris is marsh helleborine, a native orchid for damp lime rich soils. It produces elegant flowers in summer. Appearance It forms upri...

Caltha leptosepala is white marsh marigold, a relative of the yellow species but with pale flowers. It blooms in spring in wet ground. Appearance I...

Carex grayi is mace sedge, grown for its spiky seed heads that look like little green clubs. It’s a clump-forming sedge for wet soil that keeps its...

Carex muskingumensis is palm sedge, sometimes sold as musk sedge. It’s grown for its layered leaves that stack along the stems and give a crisp, up...

Butomus umbellatus is flowering rush, a pond-edge favourite with pink starry flowers in summer. It’s easy to place and gives height without looking...

Caltha palustris 'Plena' is double marsh marigold. It keeps the same love of wet soil, but the flowers are fuller and more ruffled in early spring....

Cardamine pratensis is cuckoo flower, also called lady’s smock. It’s a native spring plant for damp meadows and bog edges, and it brings light pink...

Carex acuta is slender-tufted sedge, a native sedge for wet ground and shallow margins. It’s a useful plant for adding upright texture and building...

Anemopsis californica is yerba mansa, sometimes sold as Apache beads. It’s a wetland plant from western North America that spreads into a low patch...

Baldellia ranunculoides is lesser water plantain, a small native marginal for shallow water and wet mud. It’s a good plant for natural pond edges w...