| SOME RECOMMENDED WATER PLANTS |
| Plant
Names (Common/Botanical) |
Comments
|
| |
|
| DEEP-WATER
PLANTS |
|
Hardy water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) |
Numerous
cultivars with striking, slightly fragrant star-shaped flowers
in a range of colors. Leaves float on surface of water, flowers
on or just above. |
| Tropical
water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) |
Numerous
cultivars producing larger flowers in greater quantities than
hardy water lilies. Flowers are intensely fragrant. Look for
night-blooming as well as day-blooming varieties. Night bloomers
are particularly fragrant. |
|
Nuphar (Nuphar spp.) |
Grown
for their large (up to 2 ft. across) floating leaves. |
| SHALLOW-WATER
PLANTS |
| Arrowhead
(Sagittaria spp.) |
Named for distinctive shape of leaves, which rise several feet
above water. Smallish f lowers borne on spikes in mid- to late
summer. S. sinensis contributes oxygen to water; sword-shaped
leaves grow to 3 ft. tall. |
| Cardinal
flower (Lobela cardinalis) |
Spikes
of lovely red flowers rise 3 to 4 ft. above water in late summer. |
| Cattail
(Typha spp.) |
A
favorite of children, featuring long grassy leaves and familiar
cigar-shaped catkins. Look for smaller T. laxmanii for smaller
ponds. |
| Iris
(Iris spp.) |
Beautiful
flowering plants. Japanese, Siberian, and Louisiana irises will
grow with "wet feet." I. laevigata `Variegata' is grown for
its striped leaves. |
| Lotus
(Nelumbo spp.) |
Large,
beautiful flowers and handsome leaves up to 2 ft. across rise
above surface of water to heights of 5 ft. Equally attractive
seedpods. Heat lovers, they bloom in late summer. Need large
pots and lots of feeding. |
| Pickerel
rush (Pontederia cordata) |
Lance-shaped
leaves on 2-ft. stalks joined in late summer by spikes of starlike
blue flowers that last a long time. Start plants shallow; increase
depth gradually. |
|
Japanese primrose (Primula japonica) |
Tall
stalks bear flowers in a whorled candelabra. |
| Sweet
flag (Acorns spp.) |
Grown
for grassy, irislike foliage. There are striped (variegated)
types as well as smaller varieties. |
| Marsh
marigold (Caltha palustris) |
Cheerful
buttercup flowers and bright green foliage in spring or early
summer. Plant dies back and goes dormant about a month after
flowering. |
|
Watercress (Nasturtium offcinale) |
Prolific
plants grow free-foating in gently moving water. Buy seeds or
plants from herb specialists. |
| FREE-FLOATING
PLANTS |
| Anacharis
(Elodea canadensis) |
Excellent
hardy oxygenating plant; grows submerged. |
| Water
fern (Ceratopteris thalctroides) |
Edible
leaves rise 1 ft. above water. Not hardy. |
| Water
lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) |
Little
lettuces look like a floating salad display. |
| Water
milfoil (Myriophyllum aquaticum) |
An
oxygenator with feathery leaves that are bright yelow-green,
tipped red in autumn, and rise several inches out of water. |
