Best Plants for Ponds in the Sun

If your pond is on the sunny side of your garden, you’ll need plants that thrive in full sunlight and can take the heat. Water Lilies and other floating aquatic plants are at their best in warm, sunny conditions, but you’ll also need to choose sun-loving oxygenators (to keep the water clear), submerged plants (for the wildlife!) and a good selection of flowering and foliage plants for the edges of your pond. We’ve taken the hard work out of choosing with this collection of the best varieties for every area of the pond - so all you need to do is plant them up and dust off the deckchairs!

Pond plants (157) Water irises (20)Water lilies (43)Ferns (34)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • Hornwort Plant | Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Oxygenating Hornwort Plant | Ceratophyllum demersum

    Keeps your pond healthy

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grows well in full sun, partial or full shade
    • Excellent algae control
    • A free floating native plant for oxygenating ponds and lakes

    2 options available

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  • Water Hawthorn | Aponogeton distachyos Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Water Hawthorn | Aponogeton distachyos

    Floating, vanilla scented blooms

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from March to May and in autumn
    • A perfect complement to water lilies

    5 options available

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

    Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides

    Clusters of blue with sunny yellow centres

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from May to September
    • A prolifically flowering native plant

    3 options available

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  • White Water Lily | Nymphaea Alba Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Alba'

    The only native British Water Lily

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

    5 options available

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

    Pond Plants for Wildlife Collection

    Plants to attract wildlife to a smaller pond

    • Expertly curated for the perfect mix of varieties
    • Hardy, easy-care perennials
    • Includes flowers and foliage in a range of heights and colours
    • Create a natural habitat for bees, dragonflies, fish and birds

    4 options available

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  • Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria

    Eyecatching magenta blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September
    • Spectacular tall pink blooms

    6 options available

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  • Water Lily Darwin | Nymphaea hollandia Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    Long Flowering Water Lily | Nymphaea hollandia 'Darwin'

    The softest pink double blooms

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Ideal for a sunny spot
    • Long summer flowering from June to October
    • Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

    5 options available

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  • Premium Fern Collection Pond Plants
    £45
    £45

    Premium Fern Collection

    The perfect collection of stylish ferns

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Brings a range of texture to your space
    • A variety of complementary colours
    • Ideal for damp ground and shady borders

    1 option available

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  • Marsh Marigold Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Marsh Marigold

    Heart shaped leaves, loved by bees

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers during March and April
    • A native plant which is highly attractive to pollinators

    6 options available

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  • Iris pseudacorus Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus

    The UK native flag iris

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Grow in shallow water, beds or borders

    4 options available

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  • Ornamental Colour Collection Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Colourful Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice

    Colourful plants for a beautiful pond

    • Everything you need for year-round colour
    • Expertly curated plants in a variety of colours, types and sizes
    • Hardy, easy care perennials that really make a splash!
    • The easy way to brighten up your pond

    3 options available

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

    Arum Lily 'Crowborough'

    Magnificent blooms for weeks

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun to partial shade
    • Huge flowers from May to August
    • A spectacular pondside plant

    3 options available

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  • Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia

    Classic UK native bulrush

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • A native plant to attract wildlife to your pond
    • Ideal for large ponds or growing in containers

    4 options available

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  • 5 Water Lettuce | Pistia stratiotes | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Water Lettuce | Pistia stratiotes

    Floating emerald green rosettes

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Attractive free floating foliage plant
    • No planting needed - simply place on the water!

    2 options available

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  • Yellow Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea Pygmaea helvola Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Yellow Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'

    A pond full of stars

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Thrives in a sunny spot
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • Dwarf waterlily, an extra small variety ideal for mini ponds and shallow water features

    4 options available

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

    Oxygenating Miniature Pennywort | Hydrocotyle novae-zeelandiae

    Tiny floating snowdrops

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from April to June
    • Can be grown below or above the water

    3 options available

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  • Water Mint | Mentha aquatica Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Water Mint | Mentha aquatica

    Aromatic and colourful

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July right through to October
    • Aromatic and attractive native plant

    2 options available

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

    Frogbit Plants

    Elegant floating flowers

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grow in full sun
    • Flowers in summer from June to July
    • Attractive perennial ideal for smaller ponds

    2 options available

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

    Orange Peel Plant | Houttuynia cordata 'Plena'

    Citrus scented with cotton white blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers from May to September
    • Prolific flowers for pond margins

    5 options available

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

    Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale

    THE vertical accent plant

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Evergreen for interest all year round
    • Extrememely hardy native plant to give height to pond edges

    6 options available

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  • Large White Water Lily | Nymphaea Virginalis Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    Large White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Virginalis'

    Elegant semi double white blooms

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grow in full sun
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

    6 options available

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  • Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia

    Buttercup yellow flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Summer flowering from June to August
    • A native plant highly attractive to pollinators

    1 option available

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  • Red Water Lily | Nymphaea Attraction Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Attraction'

    A symphony in rose

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Ideal for sunny ponds
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

    5 options available

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  • Nymphoides peltata | Yellow Floating Heart Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Nymphoides peltata | Yellow Floating Heart

    Floating star shaped yellow blooms

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Best grown in full sun
    • Long flowering season from May to September
    • Ideal for small ponds and containers

    2 options available

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  • Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock' Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock'

    Giant flowers in deepest purple

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Moisture loving plant perfect for pond margins

    2 options available

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  • Pickerel Rush | Pontederia cordata Pond Plants
    From £40
    From £40

    Pickerel Weed | Pontederia cordata

    Tall, free-flowering rushes

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Loves a sunny spot
    • Free flowering from July to September
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    1 option available

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  • Corkscrew Rush | Juncus effusus spiralis Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Corkscrew Rush | Juncus effusus spiralis

    Eyecatching spirals of foliage

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Attracts wildlife including dragonflies
    • A must for any small pond

    2 options available

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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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