Water lilies can produce white, purple, pink, blue, yellow, orange, red, and peach blooms. depending on their variety. These plants also produce their iconic lily pad foliage. Not only do they beautify the area, but they clean the water and provide shelter for aquatic animals and fish.
USDA Hardiness Zones: Hardy (3-11), Tropical (9-11)Flower Color Varieties: Red, pink, purple, peach, blue, white, yellow, orange Light: Full to partial Soil Needs: Submerged, loamy, neutral to alkaline soilMature Size: 2-12 inches above water, 2-8 feet wideDeer Resistant: No
Lotus flowers can be grown in both shallow water and water up to 8 feet deep. They are fast spreaders, so you may wish to keep them in large containers rather than plant them directly into the pond. Their spreading rhizomes can quickly take over a pond.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9Flower Color Varieties: Pink, whiteLight: FullSoil Needs: Submerged, loamy, neutral soil Mature Size: 3-5 feet above water, 3-5 feet wideDeer Resistant: No
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: FullSoil Needs: Shallowly submerged, loamy, acidic to neutral Mature Size: 6-12 inches above water, 5 feet wideDeer Resistant: No
It is important to note that these flowers are very fast growers and spreaders. They can quickly cover the entire surface of a pond, which may choke out sunlight and kill other aquatic plants. Therefore, it is important to keep water hyacinth under control. Growing these plants in floating baskets is one strategy to keep them contained.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11Flower Color Varieties: Purple and yellowLight: FullSoil Needs: NoneMature Size: 12 inches above water, 1-2 feet wide Deer Resistant: Yes
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9Flower Color Varieties: Purple, blueLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Submerged, loamy, acidic soilMature Size: 2-3 feet above water, 1-2 feet wide Deer Resistant: Yes
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9Flower Color Varieties: Blue and yellowLight: Full, partialSoil Needs: Wet to submerged, loamy, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
Water hawthorn prefers cool water temperatures and still, calm water conditions. It can grow in water up to two feet deep. It also is a prolific plant and often self-seeds.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10Flower Color Varieties: WhiteLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Submerged, loamy, acidic to alkaline pH levelsMature Size: 4 inches above water, 2-3 feet wideDeer Resistant: No
Broadleaf arrowhead plants produce stalks of multiple, small, white flowers with yellow centers. Reaching up to 3 feet above the water, these plants are lovely for adding a vertical element to a waterfall pond or water garden.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9Flower Color Varieties: White and yellowLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Soggy or submerged, loamy, mildly acidic to mildly alkalineMature Size: 2-3 feet above water, 3-4 feet wideDeer Resistant: No
Pickerelweed prefers shallow, calm waters, and is often found growing on the shallow edges of ponds. These plants act as a food source for birds and can also attract pollinators.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10Flower Color Varieties: White, blue, purple, pinkLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Soggy or submerged, muddy, loamy, slightly acidic to slightly alkalineMature Size: 3 feet above water, 2 feet wideDeer Resistant: No
These dainty flowers cannot tolerate alkaline water conditions, so be sure the water stays at or below neutral. Mosaic flowers spread over the surface of the water, so you will need to occasionally thin the plants out to keep the pond open.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Submerged, heavy loam, slightly acidic to slightly alkalineMature Size: 2-3 inches above water, 1-2 feet wideDeer Resistant: No
USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11Flower Color Varieties: WhiteLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Soggy to submerged, loamy, acidic Mature Size: 2-3 feet above water, 1-2 feet wideDeer Resistant: Yes
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-11Flower Color Varieties: WhiteLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Wet or submerged, loamy, acidic to alkalineMature Size: 6-8 feet tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-7Flower Color Varieties: Blue, purpleLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Wet to submerged, loamy, acidic Mature Size: 2-3 feet tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9Flower Color Varieties: RedLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Wet to submerged, loamy, clay, slightly acidic to slightly alkalineMature Size: 3-4 feet above water, 1-2 feet wideDeer Resistant: Yes
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-7Flower Color Varieties: YellowLight: Full, partial Soil Needs: Wet to submerged, loamy, acidic Mature Size: 1-2 feet tall, wideDeer Resistant: Yes
