Build a Better Pond with These Plants
If you’ve ever gazed at a pond and thought, “Something’s missing,” odds are the answer is plants. The right mix of aquatic greenery can turn a lifeless water hole into a flourishing and stunning ecosystem.
Whether you want a low-maintenance water garden, a fish-friendly fishing hole, or a backyard centerpiece, plants play a very important role. They filter water, fight algae, shade fish, and tie your pond beautifully into the surrounding landscape.
Here in the Midwest, we’re lucky to have a climate that supports a wide range of aquatic plants. But with so many choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Let’s take the guesswork out and walk through five standout species that can change your pond from murky to mesmerizing!
1) Classic Lily Pads
No pond plant list would be complete without the standard water lily. These floating beauties aren’t just eye candy. Their wide, umbrella-like leaves shade the surface, keeping algae at bay by limiting sun exposure. Underneath, fish take cover from summer heat and predators.
Water lilies are surprisingly easy to care for. Plant them in containers with heavy soil, set them about a foot or two deep, and let them do their thing. Just be sure they get good sunlight and a little trimming when the leaves get ratty.
Ohio winters? No problem. Just drop their pots deeper when the freeze hits.
2) Marginal Plants
The edges of your pond offer more than just a transition from land to water; they’re the perfect spot to add natural beauty and improve your pond’s health. Marginal plants like blue flag iris and pickerel weed thrive in shallow areas and bring a ton of visual and ecological benefits.
Here’s why these plants deserve a spot along your pond’s edge:
- Blue flag iris delivers bold, violet blooms and thrives in wet, muddy soil.
- Pickerel weed produces purple flower spikes that attract butterflies and dragonflies.
- Both help stabilize pond banks and prevent erosion with strong root systems.
- Their roots soak up excess nutrients, helping to reduce algae growth.
- They add vertical interest and seasonal color, giving your shoreline a lush, natural look.
3) Submerged Superstars
Beneath the surface, the real cleaning crew goes to work. Enter anacharis, a submerged oxygenating plant that gobbles up the same nutrients algae love, effectively starving them out. It also pumps oxygen back into the water, which your fish and helpful bacteria will thank you for.
Anacharis doesn’t ask for much. Drop a few weighted bundles into your pond, and they’ll start working immediately. They float, they filter, and they help your pond breathe. Just be aware: not all oxygenators are created equal. Avoid invasive species and stick with trusted, native varieties when in doubt.
4) Water Lettuce
If you’re looking for something fuss-free and eye-catching, water lettuce might be your new favorite. It floats on the surface like tiny green rosettes, sending roots down to trap nutrients and shade your pond below.
Fish love hiding beneath its leafy cover, and its feathery roots double as snacks for koi and goldfish. While it won’t survive our frosty Ohio winters, you can enjoy it from spring to fall and compost what’s left before the first freeze. Come spring, it’s easy to restock.
5) Bog Plants
Bog plants may not steal the spotlight, but they quietly play a vital role in keeping your pond clean, stable, and beautiful. Growing where land meets water, these moisture-loving plants thrive in your pond’s soggy edges and shallow zones, doing more than just looking good.
Here’s how a few favorites can work wonders for your pond:
- Arrowhead brings sculptural shape with bold, arrow-like leaves and helps stabilize soft, muddy shorelines.
- Marsh marigold offers cheerful yellow blooms in early spring and supports pollinators when little else is blooming.
- Cardinal flower shows off brilliant red spikes in late summer that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- All three absorb nutrients from runoff, naturally filtering the water and reducing algae.
- Once established, they’re hardy perennials that return year after year with minimal care.
Need Professional Help?
A pond without plants is like a garden without flowers; it just feels unfinished. But when you combine floating plants with oxygenators, marginals, and bog species, you create a balanced system that looks good and practically runs itself: less algae, clearer water, happier fish, and a more inviting outdoor space.
Not sure where to start? That’s where we come in. At Aquapond, we’ve spent more than two decades helping Ohio homeowners and businesses build healthy, beautiful ponds plant by plant.
Give us a call or send us a message for a consultation. Let’s bring your pond to life naturally.
