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)
  • Mare's Tail | Hippuris vulgaris| Oxygenating 1L Pot Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Mare's Tail | Hippuris vulgaris

    Amongst the finest oxygenators

    • Feathery, brush-like foliage
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Happy in full sun or partial shade
    • Evergreen plant native to the UK

    Currently out of stock

  • Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium

    Unmistakable minty fragrance

    • Mint-scented foliage with lovely lilac blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from July to October

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris versicolor Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris versicolor

    The most beautiful blue flag

    • Majestic purple, white and yellow blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or part shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June

    Currently out of stock

  • Cyperus Sedge | Carex Pseudocyperus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Cyperus Sedge | Carex pseudocyperus

    Attract dragonflies!

    • Lime green tufts of foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in sun or part shade
    • Flowers from May to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Astilbe White Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Astilbe White

    Plumes of snowy white

    • An explosion of white clouds!
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Loves a slightly shadier spot
    • Summer flowering in July and August

    Currently out of stock

  • Golden Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Golden Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

    A low-growing chartreuse gem

    • Glorious gold foliage sprinkled with flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout June and July

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris ensata | Japanese Clematis Iris Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris ensata | Japanese Clematis Iris

    Outstanding colour and form

    • Punchy purple blooms and strappy leaves
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris louisiana 'Ann Chowning' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris louisiana 'Ann Chowning'

    Amongst the utmost elegant

    • Burgundy blooms splashed with bright yellow
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    Currently out of stock

  • Astilbe Pink Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Astilbe Pink

    Copious candy pink clusters

    • Fluffy flower spires in hot pink
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Thrives in partial shade
    • Late summer flowering in July and August

    Currently out of stock

  • Astilbe Red Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Astilbe Red

    Instantly transformative colour

    • Fluffy red flower spires
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows best in partial shade
    • Flowers throughout July and August

    Currently out of stock

  • Crystal Confetti | Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides variegata| Oxygenating 1L Pot Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Crystal Confetti | Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides variegata

    Variegated, frilled foliage

    • Bright green leaves with charming variegation
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grows well in both full sun and partial shade
    • Flowers from April to June

    Currently out of stock

  • Best Small Pond Plants Collection with a Lily | Grower's Choice Pond Plants
    £75
    £75

    Best Small Pond Plants Collection with a Lily | Grower's Choice

    The ideal mini pond plant scheme

    • A fabulous selection of different pond plants
    • Zones 1 to 3 - Pondside to deep water
    • A spot in full sunshine is best
    • Attractive to bees, butterflies and birds

    Currently out of stock

  • Snakes Head Fritillary | Fritillaria meleagris Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Snake's Head Fritillary | Fritillaria meleagris

    Incredibly unusual patternation

    • Amazing chequered blooms
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Spring flowering from April to May
    • Spring flowering from April to May

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris pseudacorus bastardii Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris pseudacorus bastardii

    A perfect blend of yellow tones

    • The perfect blend of yellow tones
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    Currently out of stock

  • Variegated Sweet Flag | Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Variegated Sweet Flag | Acorus calamus 'Variegatus'

    Erect foliage plant with oomph

    • Strappy green blades with cream margins
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    Currently out of stock

  • 5 Water Soldier Plants | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Water Soldier Plants

    Stand tall, soldier!

    • Broad, blade-like leaves in mid-green
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Best in full sun but also grows in part shade
    • Flowers from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Cowslip | Primula Veris Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Cowslip | Primula veris

    A native, sweet-scented classic

    • Nodding umbels of cheery yellow blooms
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grow around a sunny or partly-shaded pond
    • Flowers from April to June

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris versicolor 'Kermesina' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris versicolor 'Kermesina'

    Talk about elegant!

    • Striking purple and white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers through May and June

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris louisiana 'Her Highness' Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Iris louisiana 'Her Highness'

    The queen of irises

    • Regal white and yellow flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    Currently out of stock

  • Hemp Agrimony | Eupatorium cannabinum Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Hemp Agrimony | Eupatorium cannabinum

    Prolific powder pink blooms

    • Dusky pink flower clusters on tall stems
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Suitable for full sun (or partial shade)
    • Flowers from July to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Dragonwort | Persicaria bistorta Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Dragonwort | Persicaria bistorta

    Instantly elevate your pond edge

    • Fluffy pink flower towers
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from June right through to October

    Currently out of stock

  • Marsh Woundwort | Stachys palustris Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Marsh Woundwort | Stachys palustris

    A bumblebee's paradise

    • Pretty pink flower cones and toothed foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Free flowering from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Bee's Primula | Primula Beesiana Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Bee's Primula | Primula beesiana

    Best for bees and butterflies!

    • Candelabra whorls of dainty purple blooms
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows best in partial or dappled shade
    • Flowers from April to June

    Currently out of stock

  • Apache Beads | Anemopsis californicum Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Apache Beads | Anemopsis californicum

    Distinctive flower-bract combo

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

    Currently out of stock

  • Sweet Flag | Acorus calamus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Sweet Flag | Acorus calamus

    A vibrant vertical accent

    • Blades of bright green foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Prefers a fully sunny spot
    • Low maintenance and beneficial to wildlife

    Currently out of stock

  • Variegated Reed Sweet Grass | Glyceria maxima variegata Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Variegated Reed Sweet Grass | Glyceria maxima variegata

    Elegant variegated foliage

    • Long blades of strappy, cream-lined leaves
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Summer flowering from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Orchid Primrose | Primula Vialii Pond Plants
    £25
    £25

    Orchid Primrose | Primula vialii

    Award-winning, showy primrose

    • Two-tone burgundy and lilac blooms
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Ideal for partly shaded or sunny gardens
    • Striking lilac flowers from June to July

    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!

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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