Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Planting plants

Our new pond is full and we were wondering what type of plants to plant if any. Our banks are bare of any type of vegetation and momma wants some greenery of some kind.
Our county extension agent told me to fertilize so we will do that on Friday. Our pond is in east Texas (Alba) to be exact.

JimmyC

Well, after some time you will think about getting rid of all that vegetation

If she wants color, then I've had good luck with Colorado and Jack Wood water lilies. They're fairly tolerant of water fluctuations, slow spreading, but a prolonged water drop will get them.

Arrowhead's a good plant, but again, a fairly constant water level is important. Some of the sage's and reeds are nice too, but they can spread quickly around the shoreline. The reeds have been the most drought tolerant plants at my place.

Be careful if you go shopping in person or online, and do research before you buy. There's a great water garden shop in Garland TX, and they sell Pennywart. It's as bad an invasive as I have ever experienced, but perhaps that's no problem in a small Koi pond where it can be managed. I offered to bring them an acre of it once, and they declined. I think one trough full was enough for them.

If you start seeing any plants that look like lilies, but you didn't plant them, then take pics and research them quick. Spatterdock and American Lotus are 2 very common wild plants around here, and they're a bear to get rid of.

Depends on the size of the pond and your resources to maintain it. If you can reach most parts with a rake, net or shovel the choice is wider.

One specific factor is the heat of Summer, shading the water will make a difference. There are umpteen large size waterlilies to try, avoid the ones that can choke a pond... Night bloom tropical waterlilies are spectacular as are some day blooming tropical waterlily

Hardy waterlilies might work well in the cooler part of the season

Lotus may be regrettable, they can romp at the rate of 6' a month

Among the marginal plants, successional planting is a perk to have something coming into bloom throughout the year. Japanese iris are a treat... Canna, Taro, Lilium, Arum lily, gosh how spectacular, would you like?

Some of the no no's, obviously those that can destroy a pond in a few seasons...

Regards, andy
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My favorite plants are yellow and blue Water Irisis. Over the years they will show up in different parts of the pond on their own. They will grow out into the pond two or three feet and a foot or two up on the bank. I got my in the wild but you can buy them anyplace. They are hearty but not what I would call invasive.

I put out a few hundred dollars worth of hardy and tropical water lilies in my pond and they all disappeared within three days. Never discovered what critters ate them.

Geese/Turtles/Grass Carp/Muskrats/Nutria?