Shade Water Garden Plants

Lilies

• Water lilies float on the surface of the water with wide, flat leaves and flowers that come in a variety of colors. Normally sun-loving plants, there are a handful of hardy varieties that will do well in full or partial shade.

  The Attraction is a cultivar with bright red flowers that can thrive in shady waters. It can also tolerate extremely hot temperatures, making it a valuable addition to southern water gardens. The James Brydon is another option for a red water lily, and like the bright yellow Charlene Strawn it tolerates shady gardens.

Tropical Water Lilies

• Tropical water lilies differ from other lilies by the shape, size and stature of their pads, as well as their tolerance to a variety of temperatures. The Emily Grant Hutchings sports a brilliant, dark pink flower, while the similarly shade-tolerant Panama Pacific can range from deep red to brilliant purple.

  Most water lilies have flowers that rest on the surface of the water, while some tropical varieties have flowers that sprout on tall stalks above the surface. The Madame Ganna Walska is a shade-tolerant variety with flower petals that begin white at the base and darken to purple. Isabelle Pring is a cultivar with bright white flowers that not only thrives in full shade but can survive the cold temperatures of temperate zones.

Rooted Flowers

• While lilies and tropical lilies float on the surface of the water, other types of shade-loving aquatics are rooted in the soil and bloom above the water's surface. The Cardinal flower has distinctive, tube-like red flowers that bloom and attract hummingbirds through the summer months. Because this flower can tolerate both sunny and shady conditions, it can be placed throughout a water garden that consists of both. Cotton grass does well in the shady shallows or rooted on underwater structures that raise it closer to the surface, where it develops white tufted flowers that give it its name. Similarly, the Creeping Jenny also prefers shallow, shady waters.

  More tolerant of deeper waters is the primrose willow, which sports red stems, green leaves and yellow flowers.

Rooted Greenery

• Greenery can be just as interesting when added to a water garden as flower plants are. Miniature papyrus thrives in warm climates and shady gardens, where it can grow up to 36 inches tall and will sprout a profusion of light, slender leaflets from the top. The corkscrew rush has distinctive, twisted stems that give the plant its name, and its ability to thrive in sun or shade makes it an option for mixed gardens.

  Another green plant whose appearance gives it its name is the zebra rush; with yellow and green striped stalks, it can grow up to 6 feet high. The umbrella palm will grow in shady outdoor gardens, and has such a low light requirement that it can also be grown indoors.