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)
  • Lesser Spearwort | Ranunculus flammula Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Lesser Spearwort | Ranunculus flammula

    Long-flowering, floating blooms

    • Cheery yellow flowers, lanceolate foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowering from June to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris sibirica Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris sibirica

    Fabulous painterly flowers

    • Majestic purple hues on delicate blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June

    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 superstar

    • Carmine red flowers and maroon-flecked leaves
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Loves the sun (don't we all?)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    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

  • 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

    • Punchy blooms in reddish pink
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Place this water lily in full sun
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    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

    • Lovely fragrant, yellow blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Full sun will see best growth
    • As tough as its blooms are beautiful!

    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

  • Large Water Lily | Nymphaea Marliacea Carnea Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Marliacea Carnea'

    A classic in pink and white

    • Pink to snow white blooms, yellow centres
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Soaks up the sun (likes at least six hours)
    • The perfect focal point for a large pond

    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

  • 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

  • Nymphaea Perry's Baby Red | Water Lily Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

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

    Compact, vibrant pink flowers

    • Prolific pink double blooms and broad pads
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • A sun-loving plant
    • Flowers all summer from June to September

    Currently out of stock

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

    Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris

    Some of the daintiest flowers

    • Heart-shaped foliage, bright yellow blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers during March and April

    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

  • Water Pimpernel | Veronica beccabunga Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Pimpernel | Veronica beccabunga

    Loved by pollinators!

    • Succulent foliage, delicate blue blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in a sunny spot
    • Long flowering from May to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Miniature Pond Collection With a Lily | 6 x 1L Pots 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

  • 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

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

    'Black Princess' Water Lily

    Stately burgundy tones

    • Wine-red blooms with real intensity
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Thrives in a pond in sunshine
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    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

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

    Medium Bulrush | Typha gracilis

    Perfect for larger ponds!

    • Strappy blades of foliage and iconic cattails
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • Flowers from July to August

    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

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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