Large Pond Plants

Lotus and Water Lilies

• Water lotus (Nelumbo spp.) is a family of flowering aquatic plants that grow from large rhizomes, and bear large, fragrant white or yellow flowers. Lotus flowers add drama to a pond, according to the Texas A&M University Extension, and they can be added to a water garden by planting in a large, submerged basket. Water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) include both tropical and hardy varieties. Water lilies have large, rounded leaves much like lotus, and bloom in colors from pale yellow to brilliant fuchsia. In a water garden or landscape pond, plant enough water lilies to cover about half or more of the water's surface, the Texas A&M extension experts advise. This will keep algae growth in your pond under control by shading a portion of the pond water.

Arrowhead

• Arrowhead (Sagattaria spp.) is a family of bog, or pond margin plants growing 1 to 3 feet above the surface of the water, bearing distinct pointed arrow-shaped leaves. The arrowhead is also called the duck potato, and its tuberous root provides food for ducks and geese, as well as muskrat and beaver. The arrowhead plant bears a tall, erect flower stalk ringed with white, three-petaled flowers that develop into marble-like seed pods.

Bulrush

• Bulrush (Scirpus spp.) is a family of spiky-stemmed plants that grow in tall clusters. They bear their flowers a few inches from the tip of each blade. The stems are triangular in cross-section, and the submerged basis of the plant provides habitat for micro-organisms and small creatures, which in turn feed fish and other larger wildlife, according to the PennState College of Agricultural Science website. The soft rush (Juncus effuses) is an attractive choice for water gardens. It grows in rounded clumps about 3 feet high at the water's edge, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension.

Pickerel Weed

• Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) is a native North American pond plant that grows to about 2 feet above the edge of the water. It bears fuzzy stems of periwinkle flowers above its pennant-shaped leaves, creating masses of attractive purple-blue blooms from May until fall, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Pickerel weed grows in the shallow edges of ponds and rivers, and it is easy to cultivate in a home water garden or landscape pond.