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

    Bog Pimpernel | Anagallis tenella

    An evergreen carpet of tiny pink blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Long flowering period from June to September
    • A low growing plant for pond edges, rock and bog gardens

    Currently out of stock

  • White Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea Pygmaea alba Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    White Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Alba'

    Tiny, snowdrop white waterlilies

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

    Currently out of stock

  • Pond In A Pot Planting Kit | Oxygenating & Wildlife | Flowers & Structure Pond Plants
    From £60
    £90 From £60

    Pond in a Pot Planting Kit | Oxygenating & Wildlife | Flowers & Structure

    The easy way to create a beautiful and relaxing mini pond

    • Contains oxygenators and decorative pond plants including a dwarf water lily
    • Tall, spreading and flowering plants for a beautiful display
    • Keeps your pond healthy and attracts wildlife
    • Specially curated for container ponds up to 1m square

    Currently out of stock

  • Best Pond Plants For Any Size Pond | All In One | Oxygenating & Wildlife | Flowers & Structure Pond Plants
    From £60
    £75 From £60

    Best Pond Plants for Any Size Pond | All in One | Oxygenating & Wildlife | Flowers & Structure

    All the plants you need for a beautiful and healthy pond

    • The perfect selection of plants for every size of pond
    • Contains oxygenators, marginal and floating plants plus a water lily
    • Tall, spreading and flowering plants for a beautiful display
    • Keeps your pond healthy and attracts wildlife

    Currently out of stock

  • Miniature Bulrush | Typha minima Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Miniature Bulrush | Typha minima

    Perfect for smaller ponds

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • A delightful miniature native bulrush
    • Perfect for small ponds and containers

    Currently out of stock

  • Red Stem Parrot's Feather| Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Red Stem Parrot's Feather | Myriophyllum brasiliensis

    Red and green feathery foliage

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowering from June to August
    • Helps to maintain clean and healthy ponds

    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

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grows best in partial shade
    • Flowering from June to August
    • Spirals of lilac purple flowers

    Currently out of stock

  • Brazilian Micro Sword | Lilaeopsis brasiliensis| Oxygenating 1L Pot Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Brazilian Micro Sword | Lilaeopsis brasiliensis

    Fresh green stems for shallow waters

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Suitable for growing in full sun or partial shade
    • A very compact vibrant plant from the Amazon
    • Perfect for small and container ponds

    Currently out of stock

  • Watercress | Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Watercress | Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum

    Attractive and delicious!

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Blooms from June to August
    • Can be eaten if grown in clean water

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris sibirica Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris sibirica

    The perfect shade of blue

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June
    • Prefers moist to boggy soil - ideal for pond borders and bog gardens

    Currently out of stock

  • James Brydon Water Lily | Nymphaea Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Carmine Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'James Brydon'

    Award winning red waterlily

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Perfect for a sunny pond
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

    Currently out of stock

  • Red Water Lily | Nymphaea Perry's Baby Red Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Perry's Baby Red'

    Compact, prolific and vibrant red

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • A sun-loving plant
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • A small waterlily, perfect for more compact ponds

    Currently out of stock

  • Nymphaea Odorata sulphurea | Water Lily Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    Fragrant Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Odorata Sulphurea'

    Showy and sweetly scented

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

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris versicolor Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris versicolor

    The most beautiful blue flag

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June
    • Plant at pond edges or in beds and borders

    Currently out of stock

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

    Golden Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

    Glorious gold foliage sprinkled with flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout June and July
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

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

    Iris ensata | Japanese Clematis Iris

    Outstanding colour and form

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June
    • Loves pond edges, bog gardens and borders

    Currently out of stock

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

    Iris louisiana 'Ann Chowning'

    Cherry red flowering award winner

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Ideal for shallow pond edges or planting shelves

    Currently out of stock

  • Marsh Marigold | Caltha Palustris Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris

    • 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

    Currently out of stock

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

    Oxygenating Crystal Confetti | Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides variegata

    Bright green leaves with atttactive variegation

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grows well in both full sun and partial shade
    • Flowers from April to June
    • Thrives in pond margins and water gardens

    Currently out of stock

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

    Iris pseudacorus bastardii

    The perfect blend of yellow tones

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Plant at pond edges or in beds and borders

    Currently out of stock

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

    Water Soldier Plants

    Summer flowering, floating foliage

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Best in full sun but also grows in partial shade
    • Flowers from June to August
    • Ideal floating plant for a wildlife garden

    Currently out of stock

  • Black Princess Water Lily Pond Plants
    From £40
    From £40

    'Black Princess' Water Lily

    Stately burgundy tones

    • 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.

    Currently out of stock

  • Cowslip | Primula Veris Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Cowslip | Primula veris

    A classic, sweet-scented native plant

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grow in groups around a sunny or partly shaded pond
    • Flowers from April to June
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner
    • approved by Shakespeare

    Currently out of stock

  • Medium Bulrush | Typha gracilis Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Medium Bulrush | Typha gracilis

    Perfect for large ponds

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • The classic choice for a natural pond edge
    • A beautiful bulrush for medium to large ponds

    Currently out of stock

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

    Iris versicolor 'Kermesina'

    The richest claret purple blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June
    • Perfect for ponds, lakes and bog gardens

    Currently out of stock

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

    Iris louisiana 'Her Highness'

    The queen of irises

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Ideal for shallow pond edges or planting shelves

    Currently out of stock

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

    Hemp Agrimony | Eupatorium cannabinum

    Clusters of fluffy pink

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Suitable for growing in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July to September
    • An attractive plant for ponds and wet soil

    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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