Plant palette
Top row, left to right:
Nymphaea or water lilies have many varieties, some of which are hardy, including large and dwarf forms. They grow from tubers planted in pots below the water and flower from spring to summer.
Candelabra primulas are lovely fringing a pond or stream and they flower from May to June. They are long-lived and hardy choices. Plant in drifts with ferns and hostas.
iris species and cultivars make up a large family, and include many that grow in shallow water and pond margins, such as the blue and yellow flags and Japanese cultivars.
Second row, left to right:
houttuynia Cordata will freely spread in wet mud and will also help keep the water algae free. The strongest colouration is in sun and the white flowers appear June to August.
Gunnera is a large architectural plant for moist, boggy soil. Protect them from wind and allow them plenty of space. Cut them back in autumn and divide in early spring.
hostas are herbaceous plants, totally tolerant of shade, primarily grown for their wide range of leaves. Spires of flowers appear in summer. Planting by a pond that has frogs will keep down the snails.
Third row, left to right:
Zantedeschia aethiopica, or arum-lily, is a tuberous perennial that makes a striking edge-ofpond plant with its large white flowers that appear from spring through summer, and glossy leaves.
typha, or bulrushes, are found in the wild growing beside lakes and ponds. Plant in an aquatic basket to keep it well behaved, or set in mud by a large pond and cull annually.
rodgersia, with their frothy spires of blooms, are lovely as marginal or bog plants. They prefer part sun and will die back in winter but then renew themselves in time for spring.
Fourth row, left to right:
lythrum salicaria purple loosestrife’s longflowering blooms attract bees and butterflies. The plant can be submerged in the margins of a pond, or looks atmospheric in a sunny border with grasses.
hemerocallis, or daylilies, are ideal for bog gardens and flower from June to September, with each bloom lasting a single day. There are thousands of cultivars to choose from.
matteuccia struthiopteris, or ostrich ferns, grow in shady, damp areas. They spread slowly by rhizomes and make an attractive fringe for water features or ponds.