Aqua gardens are a popular form of gardening that feature water features as a dominant element. The endless variety, designs, and planting options make them unique and beautiful. When it comes to selecting suitable plants for aqua gardens, there are several options available.
Lotus- Lotus or Nelumbo nucifera is colloquially known as water lily is a plant native to a range of South Asian countries, such as India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Australia. The lotus flower blooms in variety of colors, including white, pink, yellow, red, lavender, and pink. The lotus plant is one of the most majestic-looking aquatic plants. It is a tropical plant that needs at least 6 hours of sun per day. It is best to use soil that is suitable for pond plants as garden soil can cause tuber tot. The aquatic garden should be covered during winter to protect the plant from freezing and also only fertilize the plant during summer.
Rain Lily- Zephyranthes or Rain Lily is a flowering plant native to the Western Hemisphere and is widely cultivated as ornamentals. Rain lily plants are suitable for planting on the edge of ponds, in sandy soil, or in average-rich garden soil. This plant thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hot climates. They are best suited for warm and humid environments, plus they do not need to be fertilized.
Pickerel Plant- Pickerel Plant or pickerel weed is a plant that grows at the margin of ponds or in a wetland. They can also be submerged in water and require full sun. The best time to plant the pickerel plant is early spring. It is advised to use small stones to hold the roots in place. Usually, the plant is low-maintenance but needs regular pruning to avoid excessive debris lining the ponds and streams.
Marsh Marigold- Marsh Marigold or Caltha Palustris is a flowering plant that is native to North America. This plant thrives in rich acidic soil that does better in partial shade. They can also be submerged 4 to 5 inches deep in water. They don’t need to feed fertilizer and go dormant after blooming. They also do not need any protection against the West and also are not prone to pest infestation.
Pitcher Plant- The pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant that likes to stay consistently moist and can be grown in ponds. It thrives in bright light and benefits greatly from added humidity. It grows best in high temperatures. This plant also doesn’t need any fertilizers and gains all of its nutrition from insects it traps and digests. It should be kept away from humans and pets as it can be mildly toxic if ingested.
Common Cattail- Common Cattail or Typha Latofolia is a plant that thrives in high moisture environments. Therefore, they are the perfect plant to be grown on the periphery of the pond as the soil in which it grows should be constantly wet. It can also thrive in standing water and needs full sun or partial shade to thrive. It does not need to be fertilized and should be pruned when its growth slows down.
Japanese Primrose- Japanese primrose or Primula spp. is a flowering plant that prefers moist soil with a slightly acidic soil pH. They also prefer a copious amount of organic matter. This plant tends to be fairly thirsty plants and requires regular watering. It also prefers a partial shade location where they can experience some morning sun but shade during the heat of the day.
