Medium Pond

Here are a few suggestions for planting up a medium pond to give ideas about how you might plant up your own. Plants can be bought as singles if desired; where we recommend threes or tens of the same plant it is simply to give impact more quickly, especially if your pond is at the larger end of the range we give. 

Medium Pond. Defined as: Bigger than 6 feet by 4 feet but not over 12 feet by 9 feet. 

Surface/Floating (Choose 1 - 2 of the following options) 

• Any waterlily from the Medium Waterlilies section on our website
• Aponogeton distachyos x 3 (lower cost than a waterlily and in leaf most of the year, also a more suitable option for shady locations)
• Persicaria amphibia x 3 (not as attractive as a lily or a water hawthorn, but one of the few native options for deep water)
• Hydrocharis morsus-ranae x 9 (a native option, but very small and in leaf less than half the year)
• Nymphoides peltata x 5 (a native option and very easy and attractive, but fast-growing so will probably need to be thinned after two years)
• Marsilea mutica x 10 (for an unusual tropical look, but no flowers)
• Stratiotes aloides x 9 (a native option and gives an unusual look, but no significant flowers)

Oxygenators/Underwater (Choose 2 - 3 of the following options, all are native) 

• Ranunculus aquatilis x 12 (beautiful flowers and delicate foliage but dies away in summer so would ideally be combined with another oxygenator)
• Ceratophyllum x 6 (no need to pot but dies away in the winter leaving the pond bare)
• Myriophyllum spicatum x 4 (in leaf all year so a good stand-alone choice)
• Hippuris vulgaris x 9
• Callitriche x 6 (does best in an established pond)
• Lemna trisulca x 6 (much more slow-growing but a good option for very shady locations)

Marginal Plants (The number of marginal plants is mostly personal preference but we would suggest choosing 4 - 8 of the following options)

• Butomus umbellatus x 3 (pink flowers in summer, gives a lot of height, also native). Also comes in a pinker or white form. 
• Calla palustris x 3 
• Caltha palustris x 3 (yellow flowers in spring, also native)
• Cyperus involucratus x 6 or Cyperus longus x 3 (C. involucratus gives height and an exotic look, whereas C. longus is larger and native, but less architectural)
• Eriophorum vaginatum x 9 or Eriophorum angustifolium x 6 (white seed heads spring to summer, also native)
• Equisetum hyemale x 6 (largely evergreen, a suitable option for shade, gives a lot of height, and is also native)
• Hydrocotyle vulgaris x 3 (very good at covering the pond edge, also native, but may need to be thinned occasionally)
• Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' x 3 (lovely foliage plant)
• Any Iris variety x 3
• Juncus effusus f. spiralis x 3 (useful for winter interest or shady areas)
• Lythrum salicaria, wild form or pale pink form, x 3 (pink/purple flowers in summer, gives height if desired, and is also native)
• Mentha aquatica x 3 (easy to grow, native, blooms later in the year than most plants and very attractive to bees)
• Menyanthes trifoliata x 3 
• Myosotis scorpioides 'Mermaid' x 6 (blue flowers all summer)
• Pontederia cordata (blue form or white form) x 3 (for height, an exotic look and late flowers that bees love) 
• Potentilla palustris x 6 (unusual colour flowers, also native)
• Sagittaria sagittifolia x 4 (gives height and unusual looking leaves, also native)
• Typha minima x 3 (gives height and a traditional 'bulrush' look)
• Veronica beccabunga x 3 (good for covering the pond edge, also native)
• Zantedeschia aethiopica x 3 (white flowers and glossy leaves, gives an exotic look), or even Zantedeschia 'White Giant' x 1 (for a very striking and exotic look)