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Marginal Pond Plants

What are marginal pond plants

Marginal pond plants grow in the shallow edges of your pond, often in aquatic planting baskets. Marginal aquatic plants bring shape to the water edge, they also provide splashes of colour throughout the growing season.



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  • British Native
    Perfect For Pollinators
    Cardamine pratensis

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Cardamine pratensis - Cuckoo flower or Lady's smock

    Cardamine pratensis - Cuckoo flower or Lady's smock Mounds of pale green ferny foliage with pale lilac blooms. It is one of the food plants of the Orange Tip butterfly.Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: April -...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • British Native
    Oxygenator
    sold out
    Hippuris vulgaris

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Hippuris vulgaris - Mare's tail

    Hippuris vulgaris - Mare's tail - Oxygenator Plants  Low growing vertical bottle brush type stems Flowers: June - Aug Growth Rate: Slow Depth: 2 - 15cm Max Height: 25 - 30cm Native to British Isles: Yes Perfect For Pollinators:...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • British Native
    Perfect For Pollinators
    Lychnis flos-cuculi - Ragged Robin

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Lychnis flos-cuculi - Ragged Robin

    Lychnis flos-cuculi - Ragged Robin Branched stems bear opposite, lance-shaped leaves.  Clusters of star-shaped deep rose-pink flowers, each petal deeply cut into 4 narrow segments, appear in late spring and early summer. It prefers to be in moist...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Iris versicolor

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Iris versicolor - Blue flag - Poison flag

    Iris versicolor - Blue flag - Poison flag Narrow, erect foliage and branched stems bearing several bluish-purple flower with spotted yellow throat.  As with all iris the tubers are harmful if eaten. Pond ready – This plant comes ready...

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  • British Native
    Perfect For Pollinators
    Geum rivale - Water avens

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Geum rivale - Water avens

    Geum rivale - Water avens This prolific flowering plant produces delicate nodding bell-shaped pinkie-red flowers continuously from May through to September.Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: May - Sep Growth...

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  • British Native
    sold out
    Eriophorum angustifolium

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Eriophorum angustifolium - Cotton grass - Bog cotton

    Eriophorum angustifolium - Cotton grass - Bog cotton A beautiful native plant with grass type foliage and fluffy heads of white cotton-like flowers.  The wool used to be used for stuffing pillows and to make candle wicks.  It is very hardy and...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Cotula coronopifolia

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Cotula coronopifolia - Brass buttons

    Cotula coronopifolia - Brass buttons A pretty creeping plant, with numerous bright yellow flowers like buttons.  The seeds can be collected and sown under glass in February/March or sown outside in April/May.Pond ready – This plant comes...

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  • Perfect For Pollinators
    Lychnis flos-cuculi 'White Robin'

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Lychnis flos-cuculi 'White Robin'

    Lychnis flos-cuculi 'White Robin' The white flowered version of Lychnis flos-cuculi Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: May - Aug Growth Rate: Slow Max Height: 100cm Recommended Planting Depth: 0cm -...

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  • Juncus effusus var spiralis

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Juncus effusus var spiralis - Corkscrew rush

    Juncus effusus var spiralis - Corkscrew rush This evergreen is a must-have for any small pond. It has an unusual corkscrew twist to the cylindrical foliage. Although evergreen, cutting it back in early spring encourages fresh new growth.Pond ready...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • British Native
    Perfect For Pollinators
    Hypericum elodes - Marsh St John's wort

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Hypericum elodes - Marsh St John's wort

    Hypericum elodes - Marsh St John's wort The green-grey soft hairy foliage gives a glaucous appearance.  Small, saucer shaped yellow flowers appear in late summer.  Good for the edges of ponds and streams Pond ready – This plant comes...

    Now: £19.99
    £19.99
  • Mazus reptans - Chinese marshflower

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Mazus reptans - Chinese marshflower

    Mazus reptans - Chinese marshflower A native of the Himalayas, it is a low creeping marginal that forms dense mats of blue flowers that flower prolifically throughout the summer.  Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic...

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  • Acorus Gramineus Ogon

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Acorus Gramineus Ogon - Golden Variegated Sweet Flag

    Acorus Gramineus Ogon - Golden Variegated Sweet Flag This variegated semi-evergreen has aromatic, showy bright yellow & green striped foliage that grows in attractive wide fans forming large low growing clumps.Pond ready – This plant comes...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Acorus Gramineus Variegatus

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Acorus Gramineus Variegatus - Variegated Slender Sweet Flag

    Acorus Gramineus Variegatus - Variegated Slender Sweet Flag This is as Acorus gramineus Ogon but the leaves are green and white variegated.Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: Jun - Sep Growth Rate: Slow Max...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Lobelia vedrariensis - Purple Lobelia

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Lobelia vedrariensis - Purple Lobelia

    Lobelia vedrariensis - Purple Lobelia A handsome species with narrow, red-tinged dark green leaves and tubular, deep violet-purple flowers. Harmful if eaten Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: Jul - Sep Growth...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Mazus reptans Alba

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Mazus reptans Alba - Chinese marshflower

    Mazus reptans Alba - Chinese marshflower A white version of Mazus reptans. Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: May - Aug Growth Rate: Slow Max Height: 5cm Recommended Planting Depth: 0cm - 5cm Native to...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    Caltha leptosepala

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Caltha leptosepala - White marsh marigold

    Caltha leptosepala - White marsh marigold The white flowers are larger than Caltha palustris 'Alba' and the leaves are oval rather than round. It prefers to marshy ground but can grow in the water. Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in...

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  • British Native
    Juncus maritimus

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Juncus maritimus - Sea Rush

    Juncus maritimus - Sea Rush The thin stems arch gracefully with tufts of brownish flowers produced below the sharp pointed stem tip. As it's name suggests, it can tolerate sea spray and slightly brackish water.Pond ready – This plant comes ready...

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  • sold out
    Carex muskingumensis

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Carex muskingumensis - Musk sedge

    Carex muskingumensis  - Musk sedge An architectural plant with light green feathered finely tapering leaves.Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: May - Jul Growth Rate: Slow Max Height: 75cm Recommended...

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  • Perfect For Pollinators
    Alisma parviflorum - American Water Plantain

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Alisma parviflorum - American Water Plantain

    Alisma parviflorum - American Water Plantain A compact and attractive form of the native Alisma with more rounded leaves. When mature this plant sends up numerous flower heads with multiple delicate pinkish-white petals. Likes to be kept constantly...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    RHS Gold Merit
    sold out
    Iris robusta 'Gerald Derby'

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Iris robusta 'Gerald Derby'

    Iris robusta 'Gerald Derby' Large mauve-blue flowers with attractive purple stained leaves. New foliage is purple with purple to black flower stems.  As with all iris the tubers are harmful if eaten.  Pond ready – This plant comes ready...

    From £23.99 £23.99
  • New For 2025
    sold out
    Iris laevigata

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Iris laevigata 'Variegata'

    Iris laevigata 'Variegata' Clearly striped green and ivory-white foliage which does not fade at the plant matures with bright light blue flowers. One of the best variegated water plants but propagation is slow. As with all iris the tubers are harmful if...

    From £23.99 £23.99

A Guide to Pond Plants

Aquatic pond plants really bring a pond to life - not only do they greatly enhance the natural beauty of your pond, but they also play an essential role in maintaining the health of its water and inhabitants.

Step By Step Guide To Planting Pond Plants

Follow our step by step guide to successfully planting or replanting pond plants. Before we start, we will answer a few frequently asked questions.

Benefits of marginal pond plants 

Many species of marginal plants also work to maintain the health and vitality of your pond and its inhabitants. Veronica Beccabunga is one of the best marginal pond plants for shade as it will raft across the water surface, providing protection for fish, reducing sunlight and help to hinder algae growth.
Marginal pond plants such as grasses are especially useful for removing excess nutrients from the water while native marginal pond plants such as Mimulus are fast surface spreaders, creating shade as well as contrast with taller plants.

How should I plant my marginal pond plants?

In most cases aquatic pond plants are planted into aquatic baskets lined with a hessian liner topped with gravel to stop the soil escaping. However it is also possible to design integral planting areas in your pond which can look more natural and especially good for wildlife ponds. Check out our step by step planting guides or our design pages for guides on building a integral pond planting area.

How many marginal plants do I need? 

The table below is a guide to the number of marginal plants required to establish a new pond.

Pond Surface Area 2m2  4m2  6m2  8m2 10m2  12m2
Deep Marginal 1 2 2 5 6 8
Marginal Plants 8 14 18 24 30 36

 

How to look after marginal pond plants

All plant varieties vary slightly. Please follow individual advice for plants, however as a general rule, remove foliage as it dies back in the autumn, avoiding dead plant matter breaking down potentiality impacting water quality and affecting fish health. If plants only need cutting back or reducing, Spring is usually the best time giving the pond inhabitants the benefit of the plant's shelter over winter.

Pond Plant Collections  |  Water Lilies  |  Deep Water Plants  |  Bog or Marsh Plants  |  Oxygenating Plants  |  Floating Plants  |  Pond Snails & Mussels

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