Aquatic Plants
How do I choose the best selection of water garden plants?
Water plants are the most visible components of most water gardens. When we look at nature, there is such a rich diversity of plants that grow in and around water, the choices can become overwhelming.
Experienced aquatic plant growers realise the importance of producing quality water plants that perform well and satisfy the needs of their customers. This means that we test the water garden plants under a broad range of conditions, so that we can provide the right advice.
Water garden plants are easy to maintain
The advantages of water plants are that you rarely need to water and the chore of weeding and mulching is not required. What other part of your garden can you leave unattended while you set off to enjoy a short holiday? When you are home, a garden seat near a pond is the idyllic location to sit and enjoy your efforts. These are just a few of the reasons that water gardens are the lifestyle choice of many homes.
Benefits and types of water plants
Water garden plants provide habitat even in the smallest pond. They improve the pest balance by attracting birds, frogs and dragonflies to the garden. Water plants consume nutrients that would otherwise be available for algae. Submerged plants and oxygenating plants filter and oxygenate, helping to clarify the water. Waterside plants, such as Water Iris, also act like sponges soaking up the excess nutrients in the pond water. They provide protection to pond life by keeping predators, such as cats, away from the pond edges.
Creeping plants provide habitat and protection for other pond life such as fish, tadpoles and frogs. They are ideal for container water gardens where they can grow out over and soften the pond edges. Some of these water plants can even be planted in pockets to hang down alongside waterfalls.
Australian native plants are the choice for those trying to create habitats or native ecosystems, but there is no reason why you can’t blend plants to suit your own garden style.
Collectors of more unusual water plants, or the enthusiast looking for water garden plants that are a little more challenging to grow can browse through our short list.
Oz Watergardens sources many of the water plants from our own 10 metre deep, 2 hectare lake, so we know which deep water plants to recommend for the larger ponds and dams.
With the growing trend in aquaculture, we are constantly discovery the benefits of growing edible aquatic plants. This can be a fun family activity that can be as simple as growing a water chestnuts in a bucket or bath tub in the backyard.
TIPS
- Select the list topics to help you choose suitable water garden plants.
- For information on the plant care and maintenance of water plants, go to our Tips & Hints page.