Decorating your backyard pond with lush aquatic plants is one of the best ways to enhance its natural beauty. But with so many varieties to choose from, how do you know which are the best pond plants for potting?
Potted pond plants offer flexibility – they can be repositioned to balance out plantings as the pond evolves And contained in baskets, they won’t spread out of control This makes potting ideal for ponds of any size.
Follow this guide to discover eight of the top pond plants for growing in pots and baskets:
1. Dwarf Papyrus
With tufted foliage reminiscent of its larger papyrus cousin, this variety reaches just 3 to 4 feet high. Its grassy texture and soft, drooping leaves provide great contrast to bold-leaved plants. Dwarf papyrus thrives planted in pots situated along the pond edge. Plenty of sun and consistent moisture help it flourish.
2. Parrot’s Feather
Parrot’s feather is aptly named for its vibrant green foliage that resembles a bird’s plumage. Growing up to 12 inches tall, it forms a dense bushy mound at the base of the plant. Red stems carry whorls of finely divided leaves. Parrot’s feather can tolerate a range of conditions, from full sun to part shade, making it a versatile pond pot plant.
3. Dwarf Variegated Sweetflag
Sweetflag brings a beautiful pop of contrasting color with its creamy yellow and green striped leaves. Growing 12 to 18 inches tall, it adds elegant vertical accents along the water’s edge. Plant it in a submerged pot or basket. Dwarf varieties of sweetflag like ‘Ogon’ prevent it from spreading aggressively. Prune old foliage in spring to rejuvenate growth.
4. Pickerel Plant
A marginal plant growing 1 to 3 feet tall, pickerel plant produces spikes of blue flowers in summer. Its heart-shaped leaves have distinctive dark blue markings. Beyond the blossoms, its architectural foliage provides year-round interest. Pickerel plant thrives potted in standing water up to 3 inches deep and appreciates plenty of sun.
5. Yerba Mansa
This Southwestern native has grassy, lance-shaped leaves that form impressive clumps. Rippling leaves are tinged with red, especially in cooler weather. Clusters of small white flowers appear in late spring. Yerba mansa grows well in part sun planted in moist to wet soil. Use it as an accent within a container planting.
6. Cardinal Flower
Few pond plants can match the vivid red blooms of the cardinal flower. Tall spikes of tubular flowers rise above the foliage from late summer into fall, attracting hummingbirds galore. Grow it in moist soil or shallow standing water. Cardinal flower appreciates afternoon shade in hot climates. Mulch its potted roots in winter for protection.
7. Water Lettuce
Sometimes called water cabbage, this floating plant has round leaves covered in soft hairs that resemble lettuce. Forming a dense mat on the pond’s surface, water lettuce provides crucial shade while soaking up excess nutrients to inhibit algae growth. Containing it in a pot maintains control over its rapid spreading habit.
8. Water Hyacinth
Another fast-spreading floater, water hyacinth bears flowers reminiscent of purple hyacinth blossoms. Its bulbous stalks form floating rosettes with showy blooms in summer. Besides being beautiful, it helps filter impurities and moderate water temperatures. Growing hyacinth in a pot allows easy control over its growth.
Tips for Potted Pond Plants
Follow these guidelines for the best results with container pond plantings:
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Use aquatic plant pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot
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Add a layer of gravel at the bottom for drainage
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Anchor pots in place with rocks or weights to prevent tipping
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Use an aquatic planting soil formulated for ponds
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Slow-release fertilizer tablets help nourish plants
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Repot in fresh soil every 2-3 years as needed
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Keep consistent moisture around marginal plants’ roots
With the right potted plant selection, any pond can become a stunning aquatic garden. Potting offers flexibility to reconfigure plantings and control spread. Give these eight varieties a try to beautify your backyard oasis all year long.
How To Plant Pond Plants In Your Pond! – Garden Guides
FAQ
What pots are good for ponds?
What do you put in a pot pond?
What is a pond pot?
What is a DIY pond in a pot?
A DIY pond in a pot is a combination of potted aquatic plants. It is easy to maintain and needs little care. You can arrange plants whenever and wherever you like. Having it in the garden is fun – it’s something you can enjoy without much work, and it’s a lovely experience growing new kinds of plants for your mini water garden in the container.
Are water plants good for a pond?
If you have a pond or another water source or feature in your garden, or indoors, water plants are very useful. To start with, they are beautiful and they make your water feature look natural. But there are other advantages of growing water plants: Some, pond plants like submerged plants, oxygenate the water.
What plants can be planted in a pond?
Plants like Papyrus, Dwarf Umbrella Palm, Hibiscus, Canna, Iris, Sedge or grasses and almost any other marginal plant from Water Celery, Yerba Mansa to Lemon Drops may be planted in pots or fabric planting bags and placed in your pond with an inch or two of water above the top of the pot.
Can you put a pond in a pot?
Pond in a pot with Equisetum scirpoides, Juncus ensifolius, and Cyperus involucratus This pond display keeps things simple and highlights the beautiful foliage many aquatic plants have to offer. Use more than one of each plant for optimum impact. This purpose-made container pond comes with a grid, making it easy to position the plants.