These are not in the order of what we like best because we love them all! Really, picking just 10? Ridiculous!
Remember on the Colorado Front Range we are in Zone 5. If you are in a valley or in the mountains you may be in Zone 4.
#1 Marsh Marigold
This is the plant that will bloom first in your pond when everything else is barely even green. We recommend putting three in various areas around the pond edges to enjoy the spring blooms. When they are done blooming, they will be a nice green and other flowers around the pond can take the spotlight.
Height
This comes in several varieties so read the tag when you are purchasing it. They could be small 6-inch plants or 1 to 2-feet tall.
Blooms
Early spring
Color
Yellow blooms
How to Plant
Take out of the pot it comes in, and put its root ball between rocks. Put other small rocks around the root ball to secure it. The water level should be at the same level or barely below the soil level.
Hardiness
Zones 3 to 7
Other Info
It could be referred to as a Caltha cowslip. The scientific name is Caltha palustris.
You do not need to bring it in for the winter. Just leave it there, and it will come back in the spring.
#2 Chameleon (or chordata chameleon)
Height
6 to 12-inches
Blooms
We like this plant for the leaf colors, and it can bloom with tiny white flowers in the summer.
Color
This plant has variegated leaves. They come in pink/red and green or white and green.
How to Plant
Take it out of the pot it comes in, and put its root ball between rocks. Put other small rocks around the root ball to secure it. This plant’s root ball should only be 1 to 1 ½-inches into the water. I find it does best on the sides of a stream because the water level never fluctuates. If put on the side of the pond the water level may go down a bit and it won’t get enough water.
Hardiness
Zones 5 to 8
Other Info
We love this one in a stream or at the edges under a bridge because it will fill in on its own and looks really good!
It will put out runners to spread, but we’ve never had it be invasive.
These variegated leaves give texture and dimension to the plant life.
You do not need to bring it in for the winter. Just leave it there and it will come back in the spring.
This is another photo of a chameleon plant that has more red.
#3 Creeping Jenny
Height
1 to 2-inches and 12 to 18-inches spread per plant.
Blooms
Small yellow flowers
Color
Green with yellow flowers
How to Plant
Take it out of the pot it comes in and put its root ball between rocks. Put other small rocks around the root ball to secure it. This plant’s root ball should only be 1 to 1 ½-inches into the water.
Hardiness
Zones 4 to 10
Other Info
Creeping Jenny is excellent for softening rocky edges. They can be planted outside the pond close to the edge and then just inside the pond to really create a soft edge.
It is sold as an aquatic plant and a terrestrial plant. They look a little different, but they are the same plant! It is being planted in water versus soil that makes them look different.
These come back every year and should be planted everywhere. They will drape over rocks, too.
You do not need to bring it in for the winter. Just leave it there and it will come back in the spring.
#4 Cardinal Flower (Red Lobelia)
This slender plant brings spikes of crimson to brighten up the whole landscape. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies too!
Height
Can grow as tall as 36-inches. Can spread 12-inches per plant.
Blooms
Summer
Color
Tall green with red flowers
How to Plant
Take it out of the pot it comes in, and put its root ball between rocks. Put other small rocks around the root ball to secure it. This plant’s root ball should be placed so the top inch is out of the water, but it usually does okay if deeper. Even 1 to 2-inches below the waterline seems to be fine.
Hardiness
Zones 5 to 11
Other Info
These look fantastic in a wetland, along the side of the pond, or even in a good place in the stream.
Make sure not to plant them where they may block the view of your backyard pond.
These are great for supporting dragonflies, frogs, and other local wildlife.
You do not need to bring it in for the winter. Just leave it there and it will come back in the spring.
#5 Purple lobelia
Spikes of bright purple? YES! We’re in. This plant is very similar to the Cardinal Flower. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Height
Can grow as tall as 36 to 48-inches. Can spread 12-inches per plant.
Blooms
Summer
Color
Tall green with purple flowers
How to Plant
Take it out of the pot it comes in, and put its root ball between rocks. Put other small rocks around the root ball to secure it. This plant’s root ball should be placed so the top inch is out of the water, but it usually does okay if deeper. Even 1 to 2-inches below the waterline seems to be fine.
Hardiness
Zones 5 to 10
Other Info
These look fantastic in a wetland, along the side of the pond, or even in a good place in the stream.
Make sure not to plant them where they may block the view of the pond.
These are great for supporting dragonflies, frogs, and other local wildlife.
Plant them in bunches together to give a giant bush of loveliness!
You do not need to bring it in for the winter. Just leave it there and it will come back in the spring.
#6 Forget-me-nots
These sweet flowers are a favorite for smaller ponds. They can get lost by a larger one if it’s not close to the viewing area. This is a great plant for a partly shady pond.
Height
6 to 12-inches tall, 12 to 24-inches spread
Blooms
Late spring until frost
Color
Light blue/lavender flowers with yellow middles
How to Plant
Take it out of the pot it comes in, and put its root ball between rocks. Put other small rocks around the root ball to secure it. This plant’s root ball should be placed so the top inch is out of the water.
Hardiness
Zones 4 to 8
Other Info
Forget-me-nots soften the look basically anywhere.
They will do okay if the water level goes down a little bit, as long as they can reach the water.
You do not need to bring it in for the winter. Just leave it there and it will come back in the spring.
#7 Bulrush
This plant is an excellent plant for a wetland. We would not put it in a stream or somewhere that it could go nuts.
Height
3 to 4-feet
Blooms
No flowers
Color
Green
How to Plant
Keep it in a pot when you plant it. You should probably put it in a larger pot than the one it comes in. If you are putting it in a wetland, you can plant it without the pot and it will spread. It is an excellent filter! How do we know this? Because Mother Nature uses it all the time!
Hardiness
Zones 4
Other Info
Do not plant this unless it is in a wetland. If planting in a pond, only do it if you are willing to monitor it!
Once these things are growing well they will keep coming up every year. They can be cut back in the late fall.
Sometimes people can’t tell the difference between cattails and bulrush when the cattails aren’t in bloom. The way to tell is the little brown thing at the very top of these stems. They develop in the summer. Additionally, cattails have flat leaves, whereas bulrush has round stems.
#8 Black Magic Taro (Elephant ear)
Looking for an annual that is completely worth it? This is it! This annual plant will not come back next year, but it will bring stunning beauty to your backyard pond this year.
Height
2 to 3-feet tall. The leaves themselves can get up to 3-feet long! They will cover a 2 to 3-foot area once they get going.
Blooms
No flowers
Color
Purple/black (they have varieties of Taro that are green or variegated green too!)
How to Plant
Plant this in a large pot, even a 5-gallon pot with holes in it or a mesh pot. It can be 1 to 6-inches into the water. It likes partial shade but will usually do okay in the sun, too. Be sure to read the directions that come with your specific Taro.
Hardiness
Zones 8 – 11
Other Info
We love this plant! We love all taros! They can really be stunning in a pond.
We recommend putting them on the edges of a pond or even in a wetland.
Make sure if the pump is turned off for more than a little while that they are moved to a place that keeps them wet!
#9 Sweet Flag
This grassy-looking plant.
Height
24 to 36-inches
Blooms
No flowers
Color
Green and white variegated
How to Plant
Can be planted in full sun to shade. Plant about 6-inches deep. Can be placed between rocks as it will fill in nicely. Also can be planted in a wetland or at the edges of a pond or stream.
Hardiness
Zones 4–11
Other Info
Really great for supporting local wildlife.
#10 Lotus
Alright, there is a lot to know about Lotus, but we will try to keep it simple. There are many varieties of lotus.
Height
They come in all sorts of heights, but typically 1 to 3-feet.
Blooms
Summer to frost
Color
Stunning flowers of every color are available.
How to Plant
Lotus prefer water that isn’t moving. If you have a protected area in the pond that doesn’t move much and isn’t crowded by other plants, this could be a great space for a Lotus. Read the directions for the specific lotus you get as the pot may need to be quite large depending on the variety. It needs to be a deep pot, not shallow, or they will jump out. Don’t plant directly in the pond or they could take over. Make sure the tubers are at least 18-inches deep.
Hardiness
When you purchase Lotus, look for Zone 4 or 5 so they come back the next year.
Other Info
These guys need at least 6–8 hours of sun a day, so don’t put them in the shade.
If you purchase it bare-root, try letting the tuber float in the water for 1 ½–2 weeks in a warm place before planting it. The warmth helps get them started.
The flowers want all the attention so they grow up above the leaves to stand out and show everyone how beautiful they are.
The flowers will be open during the day but will close mid-afternoon.
Each flower lasts for 3–5 days. Once it dies back the seed pod will remain. This seed pod should eventually drop into the water and start a new lotus.
The first leaves of a Lotus look similar to a water lily. The later leaves will stand above the waterline (unlike a water lily).
Lotus leaves have a natural water-repellant quality to them, even more than lilypads. Drop water onto it and you will see what we mean.
In the fall, cut back the foliage and lower the pot to 24 or 36-inches for the winter, if possible. Bring it up in the late spring.
There is a lot to know about growing Lotus, but once they bloom, it will have all been worth it!
Where can you get these and other plants?
Aquatic plants can be purchased during the second week of May or right at Mother’s Day. If you wait until mid-June or later all the good ones may be gone.
We carry some (not all of these) in May. To keep costs down, we suggest putting them in during a service call. When you get them from us, they will cost a little more because we are planting them for you, too. We bring gravel to help and we know where to put them. If you would rather do it yourself, that’s fine, too…keep reading!
Alpine Koi & Reef in Fort Collins has great plants! They have many lilies and Lotus, too. Their lilies often come in large pots so you don’t have to repot them. Looking for fish? They have lots of those as well.
The Flower Bin Garden Center & Nursery Are you in Longmont or close by? The Flower Bin will have aquatic plants. These will need to be taken out of the pot and either put directly in a pond or repotted. Their lilies are fine, but they need to be repotted.
Check out Floating Water Hyacinth and Floating Water Lettuce. Also some of my favorites for different reasons.
We LOVE water lilies. If you love lilies or have questions about them click HERE for more info.
How can Colorado Pond Pros help?
If you’re still on the fence about what pond plants to get or whether you need them at all, give our blog, Does a Pond HAVE to Have Plants, a read, and learn more about why pond plants are so important to your backyard pond’s ecosystem.
Check out Floating Water Hyacinth and Floating Water Lettuce. Also some of my favorites for different reasons.
We LOVE water lilies. If you love lilies or have questions about them click HERE for more info.