Shady Pond Plants

The location of your pond influences the kinds of plants which grow and thrive there. If your pond is in a shadier spot, it can be difficult to pick the right plants for each area - deep water, pondside and pond edge varieties all need to be chosen with care for cooler conditions. That’s why we curated this collection for shady ponds. Each plant is chosen especially for its tolerance of light, medium or even full shade, and will help to create a beautiful, healthy and wildlife-friendly pond that you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come.
Pond plants (157) Water irises (20)Water lilies (44)Ferns (34)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • 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

    2 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Water Hawthorn | Aponogeton distachyos Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Water Hawthorn | Aponogeton distachyos

    The most sumptuous scent

    • Floating white, vanilla-scented blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from March to May (and in autumn)

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Pond Plants for Wildlife Collection Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Pond Plants for Wildlife Collection

    Attract wildlife to your pond

    • A wonderful variety of flowers and foliage
    • Zones 1 to 3 - Pondside to deep water
    • Grows in full sun and part shade
    • A range of hardy, easy-care perennials

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Premium Fern Collection Pond Plants
    £45
    £45

    Premium Fern Collection

    The perfect mix of stylish ferns

    • An array of wonderfully-textured foliage
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows in all light (part shade is best)
    • Ideal for damp ground and shady borders

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • 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

    Trustpilot
  • 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

    Trustpilot
  • Colourful Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Colourful Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice

    Bring the best colours pondside

    • A variety of hues, forms and sizes
    • Zones 1 to 3 - Pondside to deep water
    • Does best in full sun or partial shade
    • Provides year-round colour

    2 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Arum Lily 'Crowborough' Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Arum Lily 'Crowborough'

    The most elegant pond plant

    • Magnificent satin-white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun to partial shade
    • Huge flowers from May to August

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Miniature Pennywort | Hydrocotyle nova zealand| Oxygenating 1L Pot Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Miniature Pennywort | Hydrocotyle novae-zeelandiae

    Tiny floating snowdrops

    • Scalloped foliage and snowdrop flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from April to June

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • 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

    Trustpilot
  • 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

    Trustpilot
  • Orange Peel Plant | Houttuynia cordata 'Plena' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Orange Peel Plant | Houttuynia cordata 'Plena'

    Incredibly fragrant leaves

    • Citrus-scented foliage, silk white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers from May to September

    5 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock'

    There are few plants as elegant

    • Huge iris flowers in deepest purple
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    4 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Japanese Painted Fern | Athyrium niponicum metallicum Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Japanese Painted Fern | Athyrium niponicum metallicum

    Year-round texture and interest

    • Blue, green, maroon and silver tones
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows in all light (part shade is best)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Best Small Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice Pond Plants
    £60
    £60

    Best Small Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice

    Everything you need to fill your small pond

    • Six pond plants chosen by our expert grower
    • The best variety of colours, heights and types
    • Hardy, easy care perennials
    • Attracts beneficial wildlife to your pond

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Cuckoo Flower Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    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

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • 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
  • White Robin Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    White Robin

    Beautiful starry flowers

    • Incredibly delicate white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Happy in full sun or partial shade
    • Spring-summer flowering from May to August

    3 options 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

    Trustpilot
  • Ragged Robin Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    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

    5 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Water Plantain | Alisma plantago aquaticum Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Water Plantain | Alisma plantago-aquaticum

    Adds truly delightful elegance

    • Tiny fragrant flowers on tall stalks
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Cotula coronopifolia | Brass Buttons Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Cotula coronopifolia | Brass Buttons

    Blooms as bold as brass...

    • Dozens of little, button-shaped flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Long flowering season from May to October

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Variegated Slender Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Variegated Slender Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus'

    Versatile variegated tufts

    • Sword-shaped leaves outlined in creamy yellow
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • A spot in full sun is best
    • Compact and perfect for pots

    2 options available

    Trustpilot
  • 3 Japanese Tassel Ferns | 9 cm Pots Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Japanese Tassel Ferns

    Fresh colours all year round

    • Unfurling foliage that looks like tassels!
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows in all light (part shade is best)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • 3 Autumn Ferns | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Pondside Fern Pack

    A beautiful array of greenery

    • Arching triangular foliage
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Tolerates all light conditions
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option 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

    3 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

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!

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

Fighting plastic waste

Delivering fresh from the nursery

Supporting UK growers