Water Wildlife

      

Plants for the Pool

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There are a wide range of plants that may be bought to go in and around a garden pool, whether you choose to grow wild varieties or not may depend upon their availability - remember that it is illegal to take British plants that are growing wild.

My own have all been purchased from reputable water garden centres, and are cultured varieties.  It is wise to buy from knowledgeable and reputable sources - disease and unwanted organisms are easily introduced along with new plants.  Expert advice may also be invaluable, for as in all forms of gardening, not all specimens are suited to all conditions.

Plants may be roughly divided into four categories.  

MARGINAL PLANTS that thrive in a few inches of water (one to six, normally, depending on variety).  The iris family fall into this category, and many of the reeds.  This yellow flag iris is a very close relative to our native species.

There are a wide range of irises, some with very attractive foliage that makes them am attraction all the year round.  The purple and mauve ones add a more unusual colour to the pond - there are a great many yellow varieties of water plants.

DEEP WATER PLANTS which prefer to be well covered - lilies fall into this category, thriving in water of between  one and four feet of water (again, depending on variety).

FLOATING PLANTS which send their roots down into the water, but remain floating on the water surface.  Water hyacinths and lettuce are two examples that are freely available during the warmer months.  They are not native to Britain, and will not withstand frost.  However, their thick, feathery root system provides a haven for water creatures to hide and lay eggs.

BOG PLANTS that prefer not to have their crowns covered in water, but like damp soil.  These will thrive at the waters side, or in a prepared bog garden with a liner, that can be saturated.  Below are white arum lilies, which will grow in a damp soil, or very shallow water.