The Best Floating Pond Plants

Nothing is more restful and lovely than a pond in the garden. Fish, beautiful greenery, and perhaps a waterfall, create a relaxing, stress free oasis. Ponds need a bit of maintenance and care to keep them in good shape. Many people enjoy the serenity of aquatic plants floating on a pond. Adding aquatic plants to a pond is a good investment in healthy water and enhances the overall beauty of the pond. Floating pond plants limit the amount of light that enters the pond water thus reducing the amount of algae that is formed. Algae are responsible for turning pond water green, less algae means clearer water.

Floating aquatic plants have developed special features that allow them to live in the water. Their leaves are broad and flat which aid in flotation. In addition, many species developed air sacs, another flotation aid. They have small, feathery roots that take in oxygen and require no planting. It is easy to integrate these types of plants in a pond; simply float them on top of the water.

Pond owners can choose from many species of floating aquatic plants, either nonflowering or flowering types. All varieties of floating aquatic plants have certain elements in common; they float on top of the water, move freely on the surface of the pond, and do not take root on the bottom of the pond.

One of the most popular floating pond plants is water lettuce. Water cabbage as it is sometimes called, is a beautiful light green plant whose ribbed leaves resemble shells. The leaves grow from the centre of the plant in a spiral creating a lovely rosette. Tiny hairs grow all over the leaves that help it float on the surface of the water. The plant reproduces quickly and population control is necessary to prevent it from taking over the entire surface of a pond. Water lettuce is a non-flowering aquatic plant.

Duckweed is another popular floating pond plant and comes in several varieties. This plant is also called a water lentil and has no clear-cut stem or leaves. Large duckweed is green on the surface and purple underneath while the common variety can be dark or light green. This plant must be kept under control or it will take over the surface of the pond. Other non-blooming aquatic pond plants include frog-bit, parrot’s feather, and fairy moss.
One of the most popular floating aquatic plants is the water hyacinth. This delicate plant is sensitive to cold weather and must be protected from frost. The water hyacinth blooms in June and July; the exquisite violet blue flowers provide a wow factor to even the humblest pond. There are many other varieties of blooming floating plant including floating yellow hearts and red ludwigia.

Pond plants provide cover from natural light and keep algae production under control. They move elegantly along the water’s surface, enhancing the beauty and serenity of any garden pond. These beautiful plants will help keep the pond healthy and provide an elegant aesthetic to any pond.