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 (44)Ferns (34)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • 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

    5 options available

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • Mimulus cupreus | Red Emperor Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Mimulus cupreus | Red Emperor

    Talk about eye-catching!

    • Brilliant red, bugle-shaped blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Summer flowering from June to August

    1 option available

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  • 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

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  • Almost Black Water Lily Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    'Almost Black' Water Lily

    Dark and oh-so sophisticated

    • Plum-coloured petals, white stamens
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Loves a pond in full sunshine
    • Hardy all the way down to -15°C

    4 options available

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  • 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

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  • White Water Lily | Nymphaea Gonnere Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Gonnère'

    The 'snowball' water lily

    • Linen white blooms with golden stamens
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Plant this water lily in full sunshine
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    4 options available

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  • Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea Marliacea Chromatella Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Marliacea Chromatella'

    Sunny yellow all summer long

    • Pastel yellow blooms with golden centres
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Flowers best in full sun
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    6 options available

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  • 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

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  • Chinese Marshflower | Mazus Reptans Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Chinese Marshflower | Mazus reptans

    Plants don't get more charming

    • Pastel blue blooms atop lush green foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows in both part and full shade
    • Flowers from May to August

    5 options available

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  • Mimulus guttatus | Yellow Monkey Flower Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Mimulus guttatus | Yellow Monkey Flower

    Blooms like bottled sunshine

    • Cheerful, snapdragon-like blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Needs a position in full sun
    • Flowers all summer from June to August

    5 options available

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  • Giant Marsh Marigold | Caltha Palustris Polypetala Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Giant Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris polypetala

    Masses of giant buttercups

    • Stunning lemon-yellow flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Spring flowering right from March to May

    2 options available

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  • Large Double Petal Water Lily | Nymphaea Mayla Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Double Petal Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Mayla'

    Dazzles in fabulous fuchsia

    • Powerful pink blooms and lush green leaves
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Ideal for a sunny pond
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    2 options available

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  • White Chinese Marshflower | Mazus Reptans alba Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    White Chinese Marshflower | Mazus reptans 'Alba'

    Low-growing and prolific

    • Snow white, tubular-shaped flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows in partial or full shade
    • Flowers from May to August

    5 options available

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  • Houttuynia cordata 'Boo Boo' Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Houttuynia cordata 'Boo Boo'

    Aromatic with great autumn hues

    • Citrus-scented leaves, bright white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Equally happy in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to September

    3 options available

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  • Lobelia fulgens 'Queen Victoria' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Lobelia fulgens 'Queen Victoria'

    Blooms worthy of any monarch

    • Scorching red blooms and burgundy foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Happy in full sun or partial shade
    • Summer flowering from August to September

    3 options available

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  • Large Water Lily | Nymphaea Gladstoniana Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Gladstoniana'

    Luxuriant and free-flowering

    • Huge white blooms with yolk-yellow centres
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • A fully sunny spot is preferred
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    4 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

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  • Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata' 3L Pot Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Variegated Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus 'Variegata'

    RHS-award-winning yellow flag

    • Bold yellow blooms with subtle brown markings
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    2 options available

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  • Golden Variegated Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Golden Variegated Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'

    Compact and oh-so versatile

    • Narrow, strappy leaves (chartreuse and green)
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Full sun is best for this plant
    • Perfect for containers and mini ponds

    2 options available

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  • 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
  • Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'

    Superb rainbow of mottled leaves

    • Incredible variegated foliage, white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Summer flowering from May to September

    3 options available

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  • 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

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  • Varigated Water Dropwort 'Flamingo' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Varigated Water Dropwort 'Flamingo'

    Wonderfully-variegated leaves

    • Gorgeous tri-coloured foliage, dainty flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout July and August

    3 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Large Water Lily | Nymphaea Barbara Dobbins Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'

    Stunning colour gradient

    • Blooms suffused with yellow through to pink
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Put in full sun for best blooms
    • Compact, hardy and very floriferous

    4 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Gardener's Garters | Ribbon Grass Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Gardener's Garters | Ribbon Grass

    A fabulous two-toned bunchgrass

    • Stylishly-striped ribbons of foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade

    5 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

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