Landscaping Ideas for Natural Stone Waterfalls

Ornamental Grasses

• These low-maintenance perennials naturalize easily, grow in full sun or even shade, and thrive in many types of soils.

  Start with a tall grass like Big Blue Stem. This ornamental grass grows to 6 feet tall. Its blue-green leaves acquire a tinge of red in the fall, and turn reddish-bronze after the first frost. Between stones, plant a variety of liriope, such as Okina. This smaller growing grass comes in shades of green and has striking purple flower spikes in late summer and small, almost-black berries throughout the winter. Low-growing verbena makes an excellent companion plant. Its tiny leaves and flowers contrast beautifully with the sword-like foliage of the ornamental grasses. For plants at the water’s edge, purple moor grass grows to 6 feet tall; or for something shorter, try a fountain grass such as Little Bunny. Shear back your ornamental grasses in the spring to shape and encourage growth.

Ferns

• Ferns grow all over the world and thrive in many climates. Most varieties love moisture and humidity, making them a perfect plant if your natural stone waterfall receives full to partial shade.

  The foliage of the male fern (dryopteris filix-mas) has a shiny, glossy texture and reaches 3 to 4 feet tall; it will look beautiful arched over the rocks of your waterfall. Cinnamon fern is an excellent choice near the water as this plant loves moist, even boggy soil and will tolerate partial submersion. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, and produces gorgeous spice-colored fiddles in the spring. Japanese Painted fern’s silvery foliage makes an excellent contrast to the more traditional green of other ferns. Japanese Painted fern grows to 18 inches tall and thrives in moist soil and partial shade.

Aquatic Plants

• When landscaping a rock waterfall garden, don't forget plants that grow in the water. Floating and marginal plants play a vital role in the health of your pond, feeding off the nitrogen in the water and replacing it with oxygen. Tall, graceful Louisiana Iris grows beautifully along the edge of your pond or in submerged containers, and comes in white, yellow, purple, pink, orange and even blue varieties. Floating water lily adds charm to any water garden. The large multi-petaled flowers of the water lily bloom in shades of white, pink and purple, filling your late-summer garden with their fragrance. The round leaves of the water lily also provide shade and shelter to your pond fish. Water lilies are vigorous and spread quickly. Thin these plants out when more than two-thirds of the water’s surface is covered.