UK Native Pond Plants

Native pond plants are those which grow naturally in the ponds, streams and rivers of the UK. They’re ideally suited to the British weather and perfect for attracting bees, butterflies, frogs and more. With beloved native marginal plants like Bulrushes and Flag Irises, submerged or floating plants and even Waterlilies, you can bring the classic look of the English countryside to your pond and benefit our environment at the same time. Give your pond the natural look with our native collection - the wildlife will love it as much as you do! Need help picking?
Pond plants (157) Water irises (20)Water lilies (44)Ferns (34)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • White Water Lily | Nymphaea Alba Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Alba'

    Britain's only native water lily

    • Gorgeous stellate, white blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Vigorous grower and subtly-scented blooms

    5 options available

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  • Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria

    Transforms any dull space!

    • Towering flower spikes in rich purple hues
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September

    2 options available

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  • Marsh Marigold Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Marsh Marigold

    Some of the daintiest flowers

    • Heart-shaped leaves, loved by bees!
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers during March and April

    2 options available

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  • Iris pseudacorus Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus

    The UK-native flag iris

    • Bursts of zesty yellow brighten any pond
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    3 options available

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  • Dwarf Hairgrass| Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Dwarf Hairgrass | Eleocharis acicularis

    The brightest, greenest grass!

    • Tufted green spiky grass, small brown flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Suited to full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from August to September

    3 options available

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  • Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale

    The best vertical accent plant?

    • Evergreen, bamboo-like stems with black bands
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Evergreen for interest all year round

    6 options available

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  • Cuckoo Flower Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Cuckoo Flower | Cardamine pratensis

    Ferny foliage dotted with pink

    • Foliage rosettes dotted with pink blooms
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Partial shade to full shade
    • Flowers from April to June

    1 option available

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  • 3 Lady Fern | Athyrium filix femina | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Lady Fern | Athyrium filix femina

    An elegant deciduous fern

    • Elegant lacy fronds in vibrant green hues
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows in all light (prefers part shade)
    • British native fern, ideal cover for wildlife

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Slender-tufted sedge Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Slender-tufted sedge

    Lovely lakeside leaves

    • Spiky, recurved foliage in mid-green
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August

    3 options available

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  • Common Bulrush | Typha latifolia Pond Plants
    From £34
    From £34

    Common Bulrush | Typha latifolia

    An absolute haven for wildlife

    • Long, strappy blades of grass, brown cattails
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in a fully sunny position
    • An absolute haven for wildlife

    2 options available

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  • Soft Rush | Juncus effusus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Soft Rush | Juncus effusus

    Arching emerald fans

    • Delicate brown flowers and needle-like leaves
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Best grown in full sun
    • Makes an ideal perch for dragonflies

    4 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Ragged Robin Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Ragged Robin

    Stunning native wildflower

    • Tall stems of rose-pink pompoms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Geum rivale | Water Avens Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Geum rivale | Water Avens

    Delicate blooms in elegant hues

    • Long-flowering, nodding rosewood bells
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from May to September

    4 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Pendulous sedge Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Pendulous sedge

    A graceful, native sedge

    • Nodding brown seed heads, arching leaves
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun (tolerates partial shade)
    • Flowers from July to August

    2 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Bloodwort Wood Dock | Rumex sanguineus Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Wood Dock | Rumex sanguineus

    Use in tangy-tasting salads!

    • Striking red-veined foliage, tiny flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Best in full sun but grows in partial shade
    • Flowering from June to August

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Sweet Galingale | Cyperus longus Pond Plants
    From £35
    From £35

    Sweet Galingale | Cyperus longus

    Easy to grow for *big* impact

    • Arching foliage with nutty brown blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July to August

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria Robert Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria 'Robert'

    Towering bog garden blooms

    • Fuchsia pink flower spires
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Hornwort Plant | Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Oxygenating Hornwort Plant | Ceratophyllum demersum

    Keeps your pond nice and healthy

    • Bottlebrush-like leaves on vivid green stems
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grows well in full sun, partial or full shade
    • Provides excellent algal control

    Currently out of stock

  • 5 Water Crowsfoot| Oxygenating | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Oxygenating Water Crowfoot | Ranunculus aquatilis

    Clouds of brightest white

    • Dainty white flowers, lush emerald foliage
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Best Oxygenating Pond Plants | Growers' Choice Pond Plants
    From £13
    From £13

    Best Oxygenating Pond Plants | Growers' Choice

    Keep your pond nice and clear!

    • Gorgeous foliage in a range of green hues
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grows in full sun, part shade, full shade
    • Plants that keep your pond from stagnating

    Currently out of stock

  • Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides

    The most delightful pastel blue

    • Stunning blue and yellow blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from May to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Bog Pimpernel | Anagallis tenella Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Bog Pimpernel | Anagallis tenella

    Low-growing loveliness

    • An evergreen carpet of tiny pink blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Long flowering period from June to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia

    Classic UK-native bulrush

    • A traditional bulrush, complete with cattails
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • Helps attract wildlife to your pond

    Currently out of stock

  • 5 Frogbit Plants | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Frogbit Plants

    Elegant floating flowers

    • Charming tri-leaved blooms atop green pads
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in a fully sunny position
    • Flowers in summer from June to July

    Currently out of stock

  • Water Mint | Mentha aquatica Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Mint | Mentha aquatica

    Minty freshness inbound

    • Aromatic foliage with dainty flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July right through to October

    Currently out of stock

  • Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia

    Bright, cheery and compact

    • Adorable little buttercup flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Summer flowering from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • 5 Water Violet Plants| Oxygenating | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Oxygenating Water Violet Plants | Hottonia palustris

    Ferny foliage dotted with lilac

    • Feathery foliage, delicate white flowers
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grows best in partial shade
    • Flowers from June to August

    Currently out of stock

Enfield

Meet Caroline

A deep dive into sustainable gardening

Nestled amongst wildlife meadows and resident ducks, Caroline’s award winning pond plant nursery in Enfield has been making a splash since 1965, when they invented the (recycled, obvs) aquatic basket. Sixty years and multiple RHS gold medals later, they’re still surprising us with new varieties every year!

Need help picking?

Why choose native pond plants?

Why choose native pond plants?

There are many reasons to choose native pond plants, including both wildlife appeal and aesthetic impact. Native pond plants are indigenous to the UK, and have shared an evolutionary pathway with the other wildlife found in British ponds. Aquatic environments are finely-tuned, and as such, it doesn’t take much to nudge this homeostasis out of balance. By using native pond plants, you’re more likely to keep that settled equilibrium between flora and fauna. It’s like baby bear’s po(nd)rridge – just right.

What are the best native pond plants?

What are the best native pond plants?

Determining ‘the best’ of anything is always a bit subjective, but there are definitely native pond plants we’re particularly partial to here at Roots, including marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) and water crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) on the flowering side of things, and water soldier (Stratiotes aloides), hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) and water violet (Hottonia palustris) on the foliage end. Honourable mentions also go to water avens (Geum rivale), ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

Caring for native pond plants

Caring for native pond plants

Looking after native pond plants is much the same as any other pond plants. An application of aquatic fertiliser during spring can help your plants flourish and remain healthy. Plant your native pond plants in aquatic baskets to help keep them nice and secure (bog/marsh plants can be planted straight into the ground). Prune back marginals (like yellow flag iris – Iris pseudacorus) in winter, cutting back to healthy, green foliage. Thin out any plants that have become overcrowded, as they may take over your pond if you’re not careful.

Happy plants make happy customers

Trustpilot
Ornamental Colour Collection Pond Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Plants arrived in great condition and very promptly. Well established - much better than the ones I got at my local garden centre.

Monica Spence

| 24 May
Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides Climbing Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Yet again this company delivered good healthy plants, exactly as shown in photos, well packaged and within delivery time quoted. Recommend!

Jacqueline Burgess

| 2 Jun
five star rating on Trustpilot

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane

| 23 Oct
E 'Black Hamburgh' Indoor Grape Vine Soft Fruit
five star rating on Trustpilot

The plant arrived looking vigorously healthy, which brings a smile to your face, extremely well protected in its packaging.

Martyn Hill

| 5 Jul
E 'Braeburn Hillwell' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
five star rating on Trustpilot

As a non-gardener, I found my whole experience brilliant. Great information & advice available on the website, great range of products & prices are brilliant.

John-Paul

| 22 May
five star rating on Trustpilot

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden centre.

Gavin Wilcock

| 8 Nov

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