Keeping a fish pond healthy requires aquatic plants. These plants for ponds provide needed oxygen so fish can breathe. They also work as a filter, catching small particles. The fish fertilize the plants with their waste helping them to grow fast, while fish eat the plants, but not as fast as the plants can grow. This cycle keeps the fish healthy and the pond water clean and purified. Many plants for ponds flower too, adding beauty to the pond.
There are many different types of fish pond plants that are available. Some of the more popular choices are Water Violet, Water Buttercup, Curly Pondweed, willow Moss, Fanwort, Hornwort, Egeria Densa, Albatross Water Lily and Japanese Iris.
Water Violets are oxygenating perennial pond plants that help protect fish eggs. They grow easily and produce spike-like yellow-throated clusters of flowers that grow over one foot tall, and bloom in the months of May and June. Foliage is green with 4 inch leaves.
Water Buttercups easily adapt to most ponds. They bloom in the spring and summer months producing five white petals on long spikes.
Curly Pondweed is a native of the UK. It has green or reddish brown wavy edged leaves. It is a thick plant that fish like for laying eggs nearby and also offers good protection for the fish. This plant blooms in early spring.
Willow Moss is a slow grower. It does well in the shade or the sun. Fish lay eggs on this plant as the leaves provide a texture that eggs can stick to.
Fanworts bloom in summer months. Fish like this plant for hiding and enjoy it as a food source. It does not produce roots, making it a easy, maintainable plant. This plant grows entirely underwater.
Hornworts controls algae growth. During winter months it sinks to the bottom of the pond and in spring returns with new growth. Leaves can grow to be two feet long.
Egeria Densa is a plant that works as a water purifier. It grows fast and comes back yearly. With it’s easy maintenance, attractive appearance of white flowers, and it’s important function, this plant is a good choice for ponds.
Albatross Water Lily is a beautiful plant. It grows rapidly and produces many leaves with gorgeous white flowers appearing all summer long. Using special containers for planting with slow-release fertilizer and not planting too deep, this is a must have plant for beauty and fish benefit.
Japanese Iris’s come in a variety of flower colours adding beauty to any pond. They prefer the edge of ponds where water is approximately only 6″ in depth. Securing them with pebbles with help keep them anchored and prevent the plant from getting completely wet.
