Zone 2 - marginal plants
Marginal plants like shallow water, thriving when their roots are permanently submerged. These plants provide many benefits for your pond and the wildlife in it^. You can create great feeding and breeding sites as well as hiding places from predators like herons. Tall stems make good resting places for flying insects and for emerging larvae to climb out. Many provide shade and help to regulate water temperature, particularly from overheating. Plants absorb nutrients, which helps reduce algae and keeps water clean. Some also oxygenate the water. Native species include Marsh marigold, Yellow flag iris, Water forget-me-not and Water mint. Top Tip: Many plants benefit from being planted in a basket with aquatic compost.
Plants (134)
Acorus gramineus
Dwarf sweetflag, Grassy sweetflag
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
Dwarf sweetflag, Grassy sweetflag
Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus'
Dwarf sweetflag, Grassy sweetflag
Carex elata 'Aurea'
Bowles's golden sedge, Tufted sedge, Stiff sedge, European tussock sedge
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Honeyballs, Button willow
Iris laevigata
Smooth iris, Asiatic swamp iris, Rabbit ear iris
Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata'
Water iris, Yellow iris, Yellow flag, Water flag, False iris
Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Blau'
Hardy bronze leaf lobelia
Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Scharlach'
Hardy bronze leaf lobelia
Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker'
Yellow loosestrife, Fringed loosestrife, Hairy loosestrife
Acorus gramineus
Dwarf sweetflag, Grassy sweetflag
Acorus gramineus 'Hakuro-nishiki'
Dwarf sweetflag, Grassy sweetflag
Anagallis tenella
Pink bog pimpernel
Anemonopsis californica
Yerba Mansa, Apache Beads
Arundo donax
Giant reed, Carrizo, Cana bravo
Arundo donax var. versicolor
Giant reed, Carrizo, Cana bravo
Asclepias curassavica
Blood flower milkweed, Indian root, Swallow-wort, Batal, Bastard pecacuanha, Flor de seda
Asclepias curassavica 'Red Butterfly'
Blood flower milkweed, Indian root, Swallow-wort, Batal, Bastard pecacuanha, Flor de seda
Bacopa caroliniana
Water hyssop
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Sea club rush
Butomus umbellatus
Flowering rush, Water gladiolus, Grassy rush
Calopsis paniculata
Paniculate restio, Besemgoed
Caltha polypetala
Kingcup, Marsh marigold, Himalayan marsh marigold
Canna 'Erebus'
Canna lily, Water canna
Canna 'Ra'
Canna lily, Water canna
Canna glauca
Glaucous canna, Glaucous Indian shot
Cardamine pratensis
Ladies smock, Cuckoo flower, Meadow cress
Carex muskingumensis
Palm leaf sedge, Palm sedge
Carex muskingumensis
Palm leaf sedge, Palm sedge
Carex muskingumensis 'Oehme'
Palm branch sedge
Carex muskingumensis 'Silberstreif'
Palm branch sedge
Carex pendula
Weeping sedge, Great drooping sedge, Pendulous sedge
Carex pendula 'Moonraker'
Variegated weeping sedge
Eleocharis acicularis
Needle spike rush, Slender spike rush, Needle rush hair grass, Spike rush
Equisetum scirpoides
Dwarf scouring rush
Eriophorum angustifolium
Common cotton grass, Narrow leaved cotton grass, Cotton grass
Glyceria
Sweet grass, Manna grass, Sweet hay
Glyceria maxima var. variegata
Reed Sweet grass, Great water grass
Gratiola officinalis
Hedge hyssop
Hippuris vulgaris
Mare's tail
Hydrocotyle vulgaris
Marsh pennywort
Hypericum elodes
Marsh St John's wort
Iris ensata
Japanese water iris, Sword leaved iris, Higo iris
Iris ensata
Japanese water iris, Sword leaved iris, Higo iris
Iris ensata 'Barr Purple East'
Japanese water iris, Sword leaved iris, Higo iris
Iris ensata 'Murasame'
Japanese water iris, Sword leaved iris, Higo iris
Iris ensata 'Ol Man River'
Japanese water iris, Sword leaved iris, Higo iris
Iris ensata 'Pink Frost'
Japanese water iris, Sword leaved iris, Higo iris