Phoenix & Scottsdale homeowners know that adding aquatic plants to their water garden has many benefits. This includes naturalizing the landscape, creating smooth transitions for pond edges, and improving the water quality and pond ecosystem.
1. CANNA (CANNA FLACCIDA)
Canna is a tall-growing plant with variegated or green leaves and brightly colored flower spikes. It’s fast-growing and can really take over if you don’t keep it under control. You’ll also need to watch that it doesn’t freeze and die over the winter months, which can create a water quality issue.
2. AQUATIC CRINUM, SWAMP, SPIDER OR BOG LILY (CRINUM AMERICANUM)
The Aquatic Crinum lily is dainty and elegant all at once with its long petaled, white flowers and green strap-like leaves. Aquatic Crinum grows anywhere from 18” to 36” tall in full to partial sun. It almost looks like it should glow in the dark; unfortunately, it does not.
3. LUDWIGIA ARCUATA (CREEPING WATER PRIMROSE)
The creeping water primrose is named for its yellow, primrose-like flowers and its creeping stems, which grow over mud or shallow water. An adaptable species, the creeping water primrose can grow under a variety of conditions in a range of still and slow-flowing freshwater habitats. Broken off fragments of the creeping water primrose’s stems can easily re-grow into new plants. The creeping water primrose spreads rapidly and is considered to be invasive in many areas outside of its natural range.
4. WATER LETTUCE (PISTIA STRATIOTES)
Water lettuce produces fuzzy, lime-green rosettes of leaves that result in what looks like little floating heads of lettuce. It does best in partial to full shade in our Arizona environment.
5. CATTAIL (TYPHA SPP.)
The common Cattail is often seen growing in ditches and along the edge of wetlands. They are valued for their water filtration abilities and do best in full sun to partially shaded areas. Blooms appear in late spring and turn brown in summer. Cattail grows anywhere from 4’ to 5’ tall. Unless you have a BIG pond, stick with the dwarf variety!
6. CREEPING JENNY (LYSIMACHIA NUMMULARIA)
Also called Moneywort, this plant grows in mats around 3” tall, with round green leaves and vibrant yellow cup-shaped flowers. Creeping Jenny requires full sun to partial shade for best growth and is fabulous for softening edges around a pond.
7. PARROT FEATHER (MYRIOPHYLLUM AQUATICUM)
This is a fast-growing plant lush with lacy lime-green foliage. Parrot Feather is a great oxygenator, as well as fish spawning shelter, and thrives in both sun and shade. This is also considered an invasive species, so should be kept under control and not spread around to native waterways.
8. TARO (COLOCASIA ESULENTA)
Taro is known for its heart-shaped leaves that can reach 3” to 10” across and up to 3’ in height. This requires some care and shade here in Arizona, especially the Black Taro. If you have a shady-place pond, it’s truly an amazing accent plant!
9. MARSILEA ROTUNDIFOLIA (AQUATIC FOUR-LEAF CLOVER)
This is a favorite of everyone who grows it! Real 1-3″ four-leaf clover leaves float on the surface of the pond as the trailing vine spreads under the water. Very easy growers, these plants are great for surface coverage and algae elimination. They also provide protection from predators for koi and other pond fish, which is especially important for vulnerable young fish. Do not add this plant to earth bottom ponds or gravel bottom ponds as they may become invasive, this is in the fern family and is very difficult to eliminate once it’s taken over!
10. PICKEREL WEED (PONTEDERIA CORDATA)
Pickerel Weed (also known as Pickerel Rush) has violet-blue spike-like flowers that present from spring through early fall. This plant thrives in dense colonies along pond edges and in bogs and grows anywhere from 2’ to 3’ tall.
For information about which plants (aquatic and terrestrial) are considered aggressive, invasive, or just plain illegal, the Maricopa County Master Gardeners have you covered: http://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1482.pdf.
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
To Learn More About What Aquatic Plants Do Work Well Here in Phoenix and Scottsdale: https://pondgnome.com/aquatic-plants-phoenix-az/
