The 10 Best Plants For Your Wildlife Pond

Over the years we have sold more and more pond plants. We sell so many now we've set up a separate website for them - www.BritishPondPlants.co.uk. It's lovely to think of the delight they can so instantly bring, and the wins for local ecosystems pond plants bring. A pond really is about the best thing you can do for the wildlife in your garden.

There are some really stunning non-native aquatic and wetland plants, of course, but we concentrate on native species. Why?

1. Importance for a wide range of wildlife.
2. Attractive - I give you Ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi) and Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus), for example.
3. Non-invasive (if chosen properly!). 
4. Many are tough as old boots and will tolerate periods of drought.

Some of the worst biosecurity issues we have relate to aquatic and wetland plants, so do please be careful where you source them. The riverbanks hereabouts are swamped with the dreaded Himalyan Balsam, and I have seen some horror stories involving plants like Parrot's Feather. High nutrient levels in water will encourage more vigorous native pond plants, but they won't do the damage these horrors will. We source our pond plants from UK growers and they originate from natural populations, which significantly reduces the risk of contamination. There's a helpful Kitemark to look for when buying pond plants too - the Plant Healthy scheme.

You don't need all of these pond plants to have an absolutely fantastic pond, of course. When we select them for mixed pond plant packs we try to ensure that there will be something in flower from Spring to late summer. Some pond plants are only suitable for larger ponds and lakes too - I've mentioned this in their descriptions. Anyway, here are the best plants for your wildlife pond, in no particular order:

1.Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Very pretty late summer flowers, attract crowds of bees and butterflies. Upright habit helpful for dragonflies etc.. Very hardy, will tolerate drought. 

 

2. Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Pretty if brief flowers, pollinated by bumblebees. Like loosestrife, very hardy and will tolerate drought, and also part shade. Good resistance to waterfowl browsing. Can be vigorous if they like you - we typically don't include them in our smaller pond packs.  

 

3. Soft rush (Juncus effusus)

I know, looks boring, but a very well behaved rush which will give you something green over the winter and vertical interest. Emerging dragonflies will love you for planting it. Again, will tolerate a wide range of conditions. 

 

4. Water mint (Mentha aquatica)

One of the faster growing pond plants, with a helpful rafting habit. More or less minty smelling, pretty flowers attract a range of pollinators. Good cover for newts, tadpoles etc..

 

5. Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) 

Super exotic looking plant, not actually a rush. Will tolerate deeper water too, which is helpful. 

 

6. Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)

Such a jolly harbinger of spring, found in wetlands or pond and river banks. Naturalises well. 

 

7. Marsh cinquefoil (Comarum palustre)

Pretty and delicate spreading pond plant, flowers like Water avens. Will tolerate a range of conditions fomr being fully submerged to wet areas. 

 

8. Water plantain (Alisma plantago)

Helpful for slightly deeper water, reliable.

 

 

9. White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba)

The prettiest of our native lilies, super helpful for deeper areas and to cover the water surface.*

 

10. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)

Our go to oxygenator. Hornwort is pretty ubiquitous and - unlike some other oxygenators - easy to establish. 

There are a few native pond plants to generally avoid for domestic situations, in my book. Sedges and rushes can be very important in wetland restoration, of course, but they can take over. Avoid Reed Sweet-grass (Glyceria maxima), for example, which the RHS rather ominously says is "capable of spreading almost indefinitely". Common bulrush (Typha latifolia) is a big no, and think carefully before introducing Common reed (Phragmites australis) too. Bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) looks fantastic when in flower, but needs space. 

*This can be very handy not just to give wildlife cover, but also to slow down the build up of algae in summer.  Broad leafed pondweed (Potamogeton natans) is a less showy and more spreading alternative for deeper water.