Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Plants for fluctuating water levels?

Just planning ahead here. Typically the pond level has fluctuated up to 5' from Spring to Fall, but with the renovation and the wetter weather that we've been having might change that.

What plants can I plant in the 1' to 4' water depths that will survive being submerged during very early Spring to mid to late Summer besides Water Willow? After looking at some pictures I believe that I have some that popped up around August last year and are submerged (and brown from the winter)now.

2nd question, when should I plant them? Should I plant them now or in the next month or so underwater or wait until late summer and plant them on the exposed pond bottom?

I'm assuming tht the pond will fluctuate because it's still a pond that is supplied by a combination of ground water and runoff in the Spring. Since I bought the place in 2003 it's never rained hard and long enough after late May to have any surface water run into the pond.

Spencer Nursery and JFNew have been asked the same questions and I'm waiting on a reply.

If there isn't anything that'll work, I'll have to figure out something else. I really don't want to be looking at man-made structure up out of the water.

esshup, If this is just short term fluctuation ,from my own experience i know Pickerel weed and arrowhead should do well if planted in less than 2 ft.,and they are usually plentyfull in the shallows of public lakes, and of coarse Cattails but they can be a problem, there are many others but I'll let the people with more knowledge on the subject weigh in.

Essup, do you have grass carp?

Blue pickerel weed lasted for me even when left high and dry until something ate it off, I suspect ducks or geese. I have a small bunch of common cattails that do fine. The cattails are surrounded with rip rap over geotextile fabric so they haven't spread outside of their containment area. I planted some Iris last year that have been both under 6" of water and very dry that came back again this year. My pond dropped the most ever late last summer through early fall, nearly 3'.

I'm trying to shy away from cattails because of how invasive they are. It seems that we are moving towards a wetter swing in the climate, at least that's what has been happening the past 3 years. Just yesterday afternoon/evening we got 1" of rain plus 2" of snow, and 2"+ more snow is forcast for today/tomorrow thanks to the North wind and lake Michigan. The pond came up a good 8" overnight and more is coming in.

I wonder how long Pickerel Weed will survive if it isn't submerged? If I plant it 2' below full pool, it might be above the water line from August to February, with it being below freezing starting mid to late November.

I believe it would be best to plant at a depth where the roots will always be wet, IMO don't worry about them being sumbmerged for a period of time, they are pretty hardy as long as they have water.
Harvest some from a public lake or pond and give them a try.

As soon as things start greening up I'll try and find some. Thanks

Sweetflag and Blue Flag Iris sound well suited for this situation.

Does anyone have experience with Japanese millet in these situations?

Japanese millet is very wet soil tolerant. However it can't be flooded and grow... In my experience, Japanese millet it typically planted allowed to grow and then flooded to attract waterfowl in for hunting season.