Pond Plants & Animals

Lance Leaved Arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia)

• Lance leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia) is a native of shallow marsh waters and stream banks. The plant has arrow-shaped, dark-green foliage and blooms with yellow-centered, white flowers. Lance leaved arrowhead is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to11 and grows to a mature height of 1 to 2 feet. When planting in ponds, use 2-gallon containers to place plants on pond base. Lance leaved arrowhead also comes in a red variety with red stems.

Rainbow Plant (Houttuynia cordata)

• Rainbow plant (Houttuynia cordata), also known as the chameleon plant, is a creeping pond plant hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6 to 10. The broadly ovate, heart-shaped foliage is blue-green in color with red edges. The leaves grow on red stems and have a distinct orange scent. The rainbow plant blooms with small, white flowers during early summer. The rainbow plant thrives as a marginal plant that prefers shallow waters. When using in ponds, use 1- to 2-gallon containers, as the plant gets invasive. Plant it in areas of full sun.

Water Scorpion (Hemitra nepidae)

• The water scorpion (Hemitra nepidae) is a common pond animal that lives amidst the submerged water plants. The insects are about an inch long and use their feet to grab their prey and start feeding. Water scorpions suck their prey dry and are capable of wounding even the larger pond fish. Water scorpions are not really scorpions but a predatory insect with long legs and a thin body, often easily confused with walking sticks. Although the insects have wings, they rarely fly, preferring rather to move slowly among the pond vegetation.