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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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  • Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Iris pseudacorus bastardii

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Iris pseudacorus bastardii

    Iris pseudacorus bastardii Vigorous broad green foliage with lovely pale creamy-yellow flowers which make it an attractive alternative to Iris pseudacorus. As with all iris the tubers are harmful if eaten. Pond ready – This plant comes 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
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Iris louisiana 'Ann Chowning'

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Iris louisiana 'Ann Chowning'

    Iris louisiana 'Ann Chowning' Velvety dark cherry red flowers with a yellow centre, it received the Mary Swords Debaillon Award, the highest given to a Louisiana iris.  As with all iris the tubers are harmful if eaten.  Pond ready –...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • 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...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    Mimulus guttatus - Common monkeyflower

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Mimulus guttatus - Common monkeyflower

    Mimulus guttatus - Common monkeyflower Numerous bright yellow flowers with small reddish spots throughout the summer make it a popular plant for the bog or water garden. Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: Jun -...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • British Native
    Perfect For Pollinators
    Hypericum tetrapterum

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Hypericum tetrapterum - Square stalked St John`s Wort

    Hypericum tetrapterum - Square stalked St John`s Wort Small creeping perennial. Soft round leaves with yellow flowers in clustersPond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: Jul - Sep Growth Rate: Slow Max Height:...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Scented Plant
    Saururus cernuus - Lizards tail

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Saururus cernuus - Lizards tail

    Saururus cernuus - Lizards tail Green lance-shaped leaves with slender nodding solitary spikes of tiny white fragrant flowers.  The common name Lizard's tail depicts the shape of its drooping flower. Pond ready – This plant comes ready...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • 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
  • sold out
    Calla palustris - Bog or water arum lily

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Calla palustris - Bog or water arum lily

    Calla palustris - Bog or water arum lily A rambling plant with heart-shaped leaves, white flowers are followed by bright red seed heads. This is one of the very few plants known to be pollinated by snails as they are attracted by the flower's scent.Pond...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Scented Plant
    Anemopsis californicum - Apache beads

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Anemopsis californicum - Apache beads

    Anemopsis californicum - Apache beads Known as “Apache beads”, it has beautiful white scented flowers and broad, dark green leaves.  Used to be sold in Mexico's markets to ward off malaria and other diseases.  The flowers and...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • British Native
    Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Eupatorium cannabinum

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Eupatorium cannabinum - Hemp agrimony - Dutch agrimony

    Eupatorium cannabinum - Hemp agrimony  - Dutch agrimony A tall native marginal with bold, domed shaped clusters of tiny, fluffy, dusty pink flower heads in late summer and early autumn.Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Lysimachia nummularia aurea - Golden creeping jenny

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Lysimachia nummularia aurea - Golden creeping jenny

    Lysimachia nummularia aurea - Golden creeping jenny As Lysimachia nummularia but with a golden rather than rich green leaf colour. Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: Jul - Aug Growth Rate: Medium Max Height:...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • sold out
    Acorus Calamus - Sweet Flag

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Acorus Calamus - Sweet Flag

    Acorus Calamus - Sweet Flag  Dark green iris-like foliage with a small green horn-shaped bloom. It grows from a rhizome which runs across the ground out of which the leaves rise up. It has been used in fragrances and medicinal cures since Egyptian...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • sold out
    Glyceria maxima variegata

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Glyceria maxima variegata - Variegated sweet grass

    Glyceria maxima variegata - Variegated sweet grass A relatively vigorous plant but with attractive pinkie-red striped grass foliage in Spring maturing to yellow & white later in the year. It is graced with purplish-green flowering panicles in late...

    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
  • Scented Plant
    Houttuynia cordata

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Houttuynia cordata 'Boo Boo'

    Houttuynia cordata 'Boo Boo' The colourful, scented leaves turn bright red in Autumn. The leaves have an interestingly crinkled effect, unlike the other Houttuynia, this variety is a slightly darker in colour than Chameleon.Pond ready – This plant...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • British Native
    Scirpus lacustris

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Scirpus lacustris - Clubrush

    Scirpus lacustris - Clubrush A dark green rush with clusters of chocolate brown flowers near top of stems. Popular with landscapers for native planting schemes to provide cover for wildfowl.  Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in...

    From £19.99 £19.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    RHS Gold Merit
    Lysichiton camtschatcensis - White Skunk cabbage

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Lysichiton camtschatcensis - White Skunk cabbage

    Lysichiton camtschatcensis - White Skunk cabbage As Lysichiton americanus but with white flowers and slightly shorter growing. Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: Apr - May Growth Rate: Slow Max Height:...

    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
  • British Native
    Juncus inflexus

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Juncus inflexus - Hard rush

    Juncus inflexus - Hard rush Tall blue/grey slender leaved rush.  May self-seed in optimum growing conditionsPond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: June - Aug Growth Rate: Medium Max Height: 60cm Recommended...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Pontederia cordata

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Pontederia cordata 'alba' - White pickerel weed

    Pontederia cordata 'alba' - White pickerel weed Shorter than Pontederia cordata, it is a late flowering, structural plant with heart shaped green leaves with clusters of white flowers. Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic...

    From £23.99 £23.99
  • 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
    sold out
    Mimulus ringens

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Mimulus ringens - Lavender musk

    Mimulus ringens - Lavender musk Longer & narrower leaves than the other Mimulus varieties with small violet-blue flowers on tall stems. A native of eastern and central North America Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Scented Plant
    Acorus calamus variegatus - Variegated sweet flag

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Acorus calamus variegatus - Variegated sweet flag

    Acorus calamus variegatus - Variegated sweet flag As Acorus calamus but with green and cream vertical striped leaves.  This citrus scented plant has also be used in fragrances and medicinal cures.Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    Lobelia fulgens 'Queen Victoria'

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Lobelia fulgens 'Queen Victoria'

    Lobelia fulgens 'Queen Victoria' The wonderful purplish-red foliage contrasts excellently with the brilliant red flowers.Pond ready – This plant comes ready potted in aquatic soil Flowers: Aug - Sep Growth Rate: Slow Max Height:...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • British Native
    Perfect For Pollinators
    Allium schoenoprasum

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Allium schoenoprasum - Chives

    Allium schoenoprasum - Chives Grass-like tubular, mid-green leaves with pretty rose-pink flowers.  Chives are attractive, prolific flowering and have been used in cooking and medicine for thousands of years. Pond ready – This plant comes...

    Now: £19.99
    £19.99
  • Not Hardy
    Cyperus alternifolius - Umbrella Palm

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Cyperus alternifolius - Umbrella Palm

    Cyperus alternifolius - Umbrella Palm So called because of the shape of its umbels of grassy spikelets.  It makes a popular house plant and is excellent for those who overwater their house plants, as you can't with this one.Pond ready – This...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    Caltha palustris polypetala

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Caltha palustris polypetala - Giant King Cup

    Caltha palustris polypetala - Giant King Cup A much bolder plant than Caltha palustris with striking, large, single yellow flowers that appear in early spring and continue for longer than other Calthas.  Mature plants frequently have a few flowers...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • sold out
    Dichromena colorata - Star Grass

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Dichromena colorata - Star Grass

    Dichromena colorata - Star Grass A fantastic plant for late in the season as the attractive green and white, star-shaped bracts rise above the grass like foliage and continue into November. Making this previously insignificant plant a great addition to...

    From £11.99 £11.99
  • Perfect For Pollinators
    sold out
    Lobelia siphilitica

    UK Grown Pond Plants

    Lobelia siphilitica - Great Blue Lobelia

    Lobelia siphilitica - Great Blue Lobelia This showy perennial has lanceolate, light green leaves. The erect stems produce lavender-blue, tubular flowers crowded together on the upper part. The species name is based on the fact that it was a supposed...

    From £11.99 £11.99

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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