Plants for Water Fountain Gardening

Colorful Flowers

• Arranging colorful spring or summer flowers around a smaller garden fountain can create the illusion of a lush garden pond according to the Garden Listings website. Colorful perennials like gladiolus bulbs and dahlia flower bulbs provide near maintenance-free growth for a garden water fountain. These bulbs can grow in a variety of colors ranging from red, purple and orange to snow white and pink. Other colorful spring and summer flower choices include daisies and Grecian wildflower.

Floating Plants

• For those larger fountains that empty into garden pools, floating plants provide a lush botanical element without the need of soil. Types of floating plants include fairy moss, water hyacinth, water lettuce and duckweed. These plants naturally draw nutrients from the water in the fountain and act as natural filters to remove nitrogen, which helps fight the growth of algae, according to the Iowa State University Extension. Even though soil is not needed for these plants, a liquid fertilizer may still be required to stimulate proper growth.

Deep Water Plants

• Deep water plants thrive in water that is four to 10 inches deep. Adding these plants can provide the finishing touches on a garden habitat with the fountain as its centerpiece. Types of deep water plants include golden club, dwarf or miniature water lily, lotus, Victoria lily and hardy water lily, among others. The Iowa State University Extension states that in well established garden pools 40-50 percent of its surface area should be covered with leaves. Deep water plants are an ideal choice for providing this pond-shielding shade.