Pond Plants

The best wildlife pond plants provide a mixture of underwater cover, surface shade, flowering habitat and places for aquatic insects to emerge. A balanced pond can include oxygenating plants, marginal plants and floating-leaved plants such as water lilies. Native species are particularly useful for supporting UK pond wildlife.

The number depends on the size of the pond and the types of plants being used. Rather than filling the whole pond, aim for a mixture of planted areas and open water. As plants establish and spread, they can be divided or thinned to prevent the pond becoming overcrowded.

Spring to early summer is generally the best time to add pond plants in the UK, as rising water temperatures encourage them to establish and grow. Container-grown pond plants can often be added later in the growing season too, provided their individual planting requirements are followed.

Pond plants can contribute to a healthier, more balanced pond. Oxygenating plants grow beneath the surface, while floating leaves provide shade and other plants use nutrients from the water. Together, a good mixture of plants can help create conditions that are less favourable to excessive algae.

A well-planted pond usually contains several types of aquatic plant. These can include submerged oxygenators, marginal plants for shallow water, floating or floating-leaved plants, and deep-water aquatics. Using several types creates different habitats and gives the pond a more natural appearance.