Pond Perfection: The Beauty of Aquatic Plants

Royal City Nursery has been a trusted source for pond supplies and aquatics for over 25 years! As pond enthusiasts we pride ourselves on being your experts, ready to advise you, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pond owner. Tanya Olsen, third-generation owner of Royal City Nursery and a Professor in the Horticulture Apprenticeship program at Humber College, shares her recommended products for a clean pond and discusses her top 10 must-have plants that every pond owner should have. 

Watch our latest video on YouTube to learn more or scroll to continue reading. 

Thumbnail image with link to ‘Top 10 Pond Plants You Need To Have ’ video on our youtube channel.

How to Keep our Pond’s Clean

To maintain a clean pond, it’s essential to establish a balanced ecosystem. This means having a mix of beneficial bacteria, a moderate amount of algae, and a diverse range of wildlife, including fish, plants, snails, and frogs. This balanced ecosystem is key to a happy, healthy pond. 

To achieve and sustain this balance, consider using products like Microbe-lift PL bacteria. These bacteria help by consuming algae each time water circulates through the pond, promoting a cleaner, more pH balanced environment. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions carefully. For a quicker, short term solution, you can use products like ‘Clean for Ponds’ or ‘Maintain for Ponds’ by Aquascape  However, maintaining a healthy pond primarily involves ensuring adequate bacteria levels and using a variety of pond plants to support the ecosystem. 

Tanya’s Top 10 Pond Plants You Need To Have 

When planning your pond plants, it’s important to aim for around 60% to 70% shade coverage of the pond’s surface. Shade can be provided by plants in the water (like Water Lily, or floating Water Hyacinth) or along the sides by bog plants, or even shrubs that overhang the pond. Pond plants are generally categorized into two groups; tropical plants, which are sensitive to frost and need to be brought indoors or tossed into the compost heap during winter, and hardy plants, which are slower to emerge but can withstand harsh winter conditions. 

Hardy Plants; 

1. Joe Pyeweed (Eupatorium purpureum) boasts clusters of pinkish-purple flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. This native plant is low-maintenance and adds a beautiful vertical element to your pond landscape providing aesthetics and ecological benefits. 
2. Arrowhead – (Sagittaria latifolia) is characterized by its broad arrow-shaped leaves and delicate white summer flowers. Native arrowhead loves partial to full sun and is an excellent choice for ponds, as it helps oxygenate the water and provide habitat for aquatic wildlife. 
3. Lizard Tail – (Saururus cernuus) is named for its long, tapering flower spikes that resemble the tail of a lizard. It produces small, white flowers along the spikes with leaves that provide cover and nesting sites for amphibians and insects.
4. Hornwort – (Ceratophyllum demersum) is known for its resilience and ability to grow in a wide range of conditions. It is transcontinental (native on many continents), and can thrive in both warm and cold conditions. It’s fine leaves oxygenate the water and provide habitat for fish and other aquatic creatures.

Tropical Plants; 

1. Canna Lily – (Canna spp.) feature large, broad leaves and tall flower spikes that rise above the water’s surface, adding vertical interest to any pond landscape. Canna lily’s come in a variety of colours, including red, orange, yellow and pink, making them a popular choice for adding a splash of colour to your pond. 
2. Dwarf Papyrus – (Cyperus haspan) is a charming aquatic bog plant that brings a touch of exotic to ponds gardens. It can grow up to 2 feet (60cm) tall, making it a striking addition to your landscape. Its slender, grass-like leaves form an attractive clump, producing small, umbrella clusters of flowers at the end of its stems. 
3. Taro – (Colocasia esculenta) is known for its large, heart-shaped leaves and dramatic appearance. It can grow quite large, with some varieties reaching heights of 3 to 4 feet (1-1.5 meters), making it a striking focal point in your pond.
4. Water Hyacinth – (Eichhornia crassipes) are free-floating tropical plants with glossy, round, air filled leaves and attractive lavender flowers in summer. They are known for their rapid growth and ability to quickly cover the surface of sun baked ponds, providing shade and habitat for fish and other aquatic creatures.   Once the frost comes in September, dispose of this plant in your compost heap for some great fertilizer next season.
5. Water Lettuce – (Pistia stratiotes) is a tropical floating plant with rosettes of velvety leaves that resemble lettuce. It is an excellent choice for partially shaded ponds as it will burn in the full sun and the leaves shade the water, reducing algae growth.  The free floating roots provide habitat for fish and other aquatic animals.
6. Water Lily – (Nymphaea spp.) add beauty and tranquility to any water garden. They are known for their elegant floating leaves and stunning blooms. Coming in both hardy and tropical versions, water lilies are ideal for ponds, providing shade to reduce algae and increase habitat for fish and other aquatic life. 

Don’t forget about the snails! 

Aquatic snails, such as Melantho Snails, help keep ponds clean by feeding on algae and decaying plant matter. They are natural grazers, constantly moving along surfaces and consuming algae as they go. This can help control algae growth and improve water clarity creating a healthier environment for fish and other pond inhabitants. 

Aquatic plants have now arrived at Royal City Nursery and are available to purchase in-store (May 2024). Our team of experts are always happy to help you pick out the perfect pond plant for your water garden. We look forward to seeing you. 

About Tanya Olsen:

Tanya is a third-generation garden centre owner and landscape designer.

Teaches Horticulture Apprenticeship at Humber College in Ontario, Canada.

Has a weekly segment on CTV news.

Has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture.

YWCA Woman of Distinction.

About Royal City Nursery:

Guelph, Ontario’s only third-generation, full-service garden centre! We specialize in creating custom outdoor living spaces and unique solutions for all your garden, landscape, and seasonal decorating needs! At our new greenhouse, located between Guelph and Cambridge, we are the garden centre of choice for discerning homeowners, landscapers, and designers.