Plants That Grow Around and Near a Pond

Types

• Marginal plants that may be used around or near ponds include Japanese sweet flag (Acorus gramineus); gotu kola, also referred to as Asiatic coinwort or coinwort (Centella asiatica); and golden club (Orontium aquaticum), also known as neverwet.

Background

• Japanese sweet flag is a native of the wetlands and shallow water in the eastern Asian regions. The plant is also referred to as Japanese rush and grassy leaved sweet flag. Gotu kola is a creeping herb that grows naturally in the swamps and wetland of Asia with its range extending into India, Malaysia and China. Golden club is a native of the United States and grows naturally in shallow waters and swamps on the Atlantic coast, extending from New York and westward into Louisiana.

Description

• With its 6 to 14 inch long, glossy, thick leaves, the semievergreen Japanese sweet flag is grasslike in form. The small, horned shaped flowers bloom on tall, hollow stems on plants growing in very wet sites. Gotu kola has 1 inch long, shovel shaped foliage with scalloped edges and spreads with underground runners that produce roots at the nodes. The plant blooms with clusters of green to pinkish white flowers during summer. Golden club has 6 to 10 inch long, blue green leaves growing on 1 1/2 inch long petioles that are often upright in form. The plant grows from underground rhizomes and blooms with small, yellow flowers in spring.

Planting Requirements

• Select an area of full or partial sun for Japanese sweet flag. The plant thrives in very wet soil and is well suited for pond banks. Japanese sweet flag is hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 9 and is easily propagated with rhizome division. Gotu kola thrives in wet, sunny sites and soggy ground and ditches. The plant is intolerant of drought and is hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 11. Plant golden club in area of bright light and in standing water or saturated ground. The plant is hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 11. Propagate by dividing the rhizomes or with seed.