GENUS |
SPECIES |
COMMON NAME |
Comments |
Acorus |
calamus |
Golden sweet flag |
Tough, easy, can be submerged or marginal. Species has shiny
green leaves; 'Ogon' has bright golden leaves; 'Variegata' is
striped. |
Alisima |
rivale |
Water plantain |
Similar to Sagittaria, with small light lavender flowers. Bog or
marginal. |
Althanthera |
sp. |
Copper leaf |
Purple red foliage with small white flowers |
Aponogeton |
distachyrus |
Water hawthorn |
Submerged. Slender leaves, orchid-like white flowers are
fragrant, bloom in fall, winter, spring. One of the few aquatic
plants that looks good in winter. Dormant in summer. |
Bacopa |
monnica |
Water wisteria |
Submerged, bog, or marginal. Looks like Wandering Jew. Small
purple flowers throughout summer. Prolific. |
Caltha |
palustris |
Marsh marigold |
Large leaves, yellow daisy flowers in early spring. 'Plena' has
double flowers. Bog plant. |
Canna |
hybrids |
Canna lily |
Spread freely. Very dramatic colors. Will grow in regular soil,
or partially submerged. |
Colocasia |
esculenta |
Taro |
Spread freely. There are green and black foliage forms available.
Very dramatic. |
Cyperus |
alternifolius |
Papyrus--Umbrella palm |
Small version of the dramatic tropical-looking papyrus. Marginal
or bog. |
Cyperus |
gracilis |
Papyrus--dwarf Papyrus |
Small version of the dramatic tropical-looking papyrus. Marginal
or bog. |
Cyperus |
isocladus |
Papyrus--dwarf Papyrus |
Small 1' - 2' tall version of the dramatic tropical-looking
papyrus. Marginal or bog. Damaged by frost. |
Dichromena |
colorata |
Star grass |
Grass-like water plant which flowers continuously with
star-shaped white flowers with yellow centers. Bog plant. |
Eichornia |
crassipes |
Water Hyacinth |
Floater. Beautiful orchid-like purple flowers insummer. Rapid
growth, very invasive. Good fish cover. Will yellow and starve if
water is too clean. Tolerates shade. |
Eleocharis |
bauma rubiginosa |
Yellow-green rush |
Yellow green striated spiked erect quill-like leaves. |
Equisetum |
hymale |
Horsetail rush |
Bog or marginal plant. Native horsetail. Invasive. Variegatus
stays smaller. |
Equisetum |
scirpoides |
Horsetail rush--miniature |
Bog or marginal plant. Miniature horsetail, but still invasive.
Sun or part shade. |
Gunnera |
chiliensis |
Dinosaur plant |
Prehistoric bog plant with huge leaves. Prefers shade. |
Hibiscus |
coccineus |
Scarlet Rose Mallow |
Showy red hibiscus flowers on a clump-forming perennial. Dies to
the ground in winter, but roots are very hardy. Can grow in standing
water. |
Hippuris |
vulgaris |
Mare s tail |
Narrow, pine-like foliage. Good oxygenator, can be submerged. |
Houttuynia |
cordata |
Chameleon plant |
Bog or marginal.Spreads (not rampantly) by underground rhizomes.
White flowers in summer are pretty. Damp soil, not submerged. |
Hydrocharis |
morsus-ranae |
Frogbit |
Floating. Looks like a mini water lily, with small white flowers.
Shade o.k. |
Hydrocleys |
commersonii |
Water poppy |
Submerged. Similar to water lily, but easier. Yellow poppy
flowers all summer. Blooms best in full sun, but will grow in part
shade. |
Hydrocotyle |
peduncularis |
Pennywort |
Marginal or bog. 2" - 6" tall. Creeps with runners. Used as a
Chinese herb. Spreads vigorously. |
Hydrocotyle |
rotundifolia |
Pennywort--Giant pennywort |
Marginal or bog. 8" tall. Creeps with runners. Spreads vigorously. |
Hydrocotyle |
sp. |
Pennywort--dwarf variegated Pennywort |
Very small green and white clover-like plant. |
Hydrocotyle |
vulgaris |
Pennywort |
Very small green and white clover-like plant. |
Hymenocallis |
liviosome |
Spider lily |
Bog plant. Showy white flowers in spring and fall. Frost tender. |
Iresine |
herbstii |
Scarlet bloodleaf |
Deep pink leaves and flowers. Shrubby. Marginal. Frost-tender. |
Iris |
ensata |
Iris--Japanese |
2' - 3' iris with deep purple flowers in early summer. Prefers
moist soil or very shallow water. |
Iris |
ensata Variegata |
Iris--Japanese |
2' - 3' iris with deep purple flowers in early summer, variegated
leaves. Prefers moist soil or very shallow water. |
Iris |
pseudacorus |
Iris--Yellow Flag iris |
'Variegatus' has striped foliage. There are dwarf forms available.
3' - 4' tall with yellow flowers in spring. |
Iris |
versicolor |
Iris--Flag iris |
|
Juncus |
patens |
Rush--Spike rush |
Marginal or bog. Spiny dark green foliage. |
Lobelia |
cardinalis |
Cardinal flower |
Bog plant. Bright red flowers, red foliage. Like moist sunny
conditions. Watch for snails. |
Lobelia |
fulgens |
Red lobelia |
Like L. cardinalis, but with red flowers and green foliage. |
Lobelia |
siphilitica |
Lobelia--Blue lobelia |
Green foliage, deep blue flowers in summer. Name refers to the
old belief that it would cure syphilis. |
Ludwigia |
repens |
Primrose creeper |
Bright oval leaves, small yellow flowers. Submerged or bog plant.
Can cover large areas. |
Lysimachia |
nummularia |
Creeping Jenny/ Moneywort |
Bog or marginal. Trailing ground cover for the edge of pond. Wet
soil or shallow water. Small yellow flowes in early spring. Excellent
ground cover in moist areas of the garden. |
Marsilea |
minuta |
Water clover--miniature |
Tiny 1/4" leaves. Good in small water gardens or tabletop ponds. |
Marsilea |
mutica |
Water clover |
Submerged or bog. Looks like the clover you get in lawns. Good
fish cover. |
Marsilea |
quarifolia |
Water clover |
Marginal or bog. A four-leafed clover with interesting leaf pattern. |
Mentha |
aquatica |
Water mint |
Very fragrant, small foliage, small white flowers. |
Mimulus |
sp. |
Monkeyflower |
Yellow trumpet shaped flowers. Marginal. Spreads quickly. |
Myosotis |
palustris |
Water forget-me-not |
Small, light blue flowers. Marginal or bog. Fast spreader. |
Myriophyllum |
aquaticum |
Parrot s feather |
Submerged. Good oxygenator. Grows very rapidly; pull out excess
every so often. Dies back in frost, but comes back in spring. |
Nasturtium |
officinale |
Watercress |
Small dark green pungent leaves, tiny white flowers. Doesn't like
murky water. |
Nelumbo |
species |
Lotus |
Submerged. Huge, with stunning flowers. Best in full sun. Needs
deep water and lots of space. |
Nymphaea |
species and hybrids |
Water lilies |
Submerged. Hardy and tropical types. Need 6 - 8 hours of direct
sun or they won't flower. Minimum 12" depth for dwarf types, 2' +
for full-size types. White, pink, red, yellow, orange. |
Nymphoides |
cristatum |
Water snowflake |
Submerged. Large heart-shaped leaves float. White fringed
flowers, blooms late spring through summer. |
Nymphoides |
geminata |
Yellow fringe |
Submerged. Fringed yellow flowers, brown and green leaves.
Protect in winter. |
Nymphoides |
peltata |
Floating heart |
Submerged. Fast-growing with yellow blossoms spring through fall. |
Phalaris |
arundinacea Picta |
Ribbon grass |
Striped grass. Marginal or bog. Also a good garden grass. |
Physostegia |
virginiana |
Obedience plant |
Spikes of white, pink, or lavender flowers. Dramatic. Great in
flower arrangements. Marginal. Excellent garden perennial; doesn't
require wet soil. |
Pista |
stratoides |
Water Lettuce |
Floater. Looks like a miniature cabbage. Prefers full sun. Not
frost tolerant. |
Pontederia |
cordata |
Pickerel weed--Blue Pickerelweed |
Iris-like foliage, with pretty blue flowers in a spike from
summer to fall. 'Alba' is white. |
Ranunculus |
septentrionalis |
Marsh buttercup |
Bog or marginal. Parsley like foliage, yellow flower. |
Rotala |
rotundifolia |
Water sprite |
Submerged. Tiny pink flower stalk. |
Ruellia |
brittoniana |
|
Showy blue flowers on a spreading plant for moist areas. 'Chi Chi'
has soft pink flowers, 'Alba' is white. There is a dwarf, less
invasive form ('Katie'). |
Sagittaria |
class="it"graimea |
Arrowhead--Narrowleaf arrowhead |
Bog or marginal. Narrower leaves than S. lancifolia, but
otherwise similar. |
Sagittaria |
lancifolia |
Arrowhead--Fairy lance arrowhead |
Bog or marginal. Spoon shaped foliage, with wands of white
flowers in springtime. Easy in wet areas or under several inches of
water. |
Sagittaria |
latifolia |
Arrowhead |
Bog or marginal. Wider leaves than S. lancifolia, but otherwise
similar. |
Salix |
matsudana |
Willow--Curly willow |
Huge, fast-growing tree. Many drawbacks, but very graceful in its
place. When used near a pond it is usually pruned severely to keep it
small. Very easy to root. |
Salvinia |
auriculata |
Water velvet |
Floater. A floating fern which multiplies very rapidly. Tender in
winter. |
Saururus |
cernuus |
Lizard's tail |
Bog or marginal. Can be several inches deep. |
Scirpus |
californicus |
Rush--Giant bullrush |
Tule rush. Native. Bog plant. Can reach 6' . |
Scirpus |
fluviatilis |
Rush--Fiber optic grass |
Cute little rush with odd, grass-like foliage. |
Scirpus |
lacustris Albescens |
Rush--White rush |
Tubular stalks are white to light green. |
Scirpus |
zebrinus |
Rush--Zebra rush |
Medium-sized (1' - 2' ) rush with white bands. |
Sisyrinchium |
californicum |
Yellow-eyed grass |
Grass-like leaves with small yellow iris-like blooms in late spring. |
Thalia |
dealbata |
Thalia |
Big plant with red stems, green leaves, purple flowers on a tall
spike. Bog or marginal. Can be submerged up to 12" . |
Tulbaghia |
violacea |
Society garlic |
Bog or marginal. Onion relative with continuous supply of light
lavender-pink flowers. Also grows fine in the garden. Variegated form
is very common. |
Typha |
angustifolia |
Cattail--Graceful cattail |
Bog or marginal. Can be invasive. 4 ' tall, hot dog on a stick. |
Typha |
latifolia |
Cattail--Common cattail |
Bog or marginal. Can be invasive. Our native species. |
Typha |
minima |
Cattail--Miniature cattail |
Bog or marginal. Best Typha choice for small gardens. 2' - 3' max. |
Zantedeschia |
species |
Calla lilies |
Very tough perennials for shade. Can take wet, even soggy soil.
Grow on the edge of or in ponds. |
Zephyranthes |
species |
Fairy lily; Summer crocus |
Shiny green leaves, very easy to grow. Bloom off and on through
the summer. White, pink forms available. Marginal or bog. Also a good
rock garden plant. |