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)
  • 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

  • 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

  • Yellow Water Lily | Nuphar lutea Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Yellow Water Lily | Nuphar lutea

    Scented, floating buttercups

    • Fragrant yellow, cupped blooms on stalks
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Drumstick Primula | Primula Denticulata Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Drumstick Primula | Primula denticulata

    Drumroll, please...

    • Award-winning violet pompoms on erect stems
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Happy in full sun or part shade
    • Pompom purple flowers from April to June

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris sibirica 'Snow Queen' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris sibirica 'Snow Queen'

    Frost white and majestic

    • Brilliant white flowers with yellow centres
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout May and June

    Currently out of stock

  • Iris pseudacorus 'Alba' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris pseudacorus 'Alba'

    Wonderful creamy-white tones

    • Delicate iris blooms with elegant markings
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    Currently out of stock

  • Bulley's Primrose | Primula Bulleyana Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Bulley's Primrose | Primula bulleyana

    A jolt of cheery sunshine

    • Superb sunset blooms aloft vertical stems
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from March to June

    Currently out of stock

  • Large Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea Rose Arey Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Rose Arey'

    A pink star for larger ponds

    • Stunning star-shaped, pink blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Plant in full sun for the best flowers
    • Robust, floriferous and long-blooming

    Currently out of stock

  • White Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris alba Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    White Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris alba

    Attract pollinators to the pond

    • Daisy-like flowers in white and yellow
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Loves a sunny spot by the pond
    • Flowers throughout March and April

    Currently out of stock

  • Giant Pickerel Rush Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Giant Pickerel Weed

    Beautiful and beloved by bees

    • Spikes of lavender-blue flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Swamp Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris 'Plena' Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Swamp Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris 'Plena'

    One of the brightest pond plants

    • Rosettes of the brightest yellow blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Prefers full sun but can grow in part shade
    • Spectacular spring blooms from March to April

    Currently out of stock

  • Wild Primrose | Primula Vulgaris Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Wild Primrose | Primula vulgaris

    The original and best

    • Butter yellow blooms atop foliage rosettes
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Loves a partly shaded spot
    • Long flowering from January to May

    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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