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)
  • Dragonwort | Persicaria bistorta Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Dragonwort | Persicaria bistorta

    Fluffy pink towers for pondside and border

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from June right through to October
    • Ideal for pondside, borders or bog gardens

    Currently out of stock

  • Marsh Woundwort | Stachys palustris Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Marsh Woundwort | Stachys palustris

    Bright pinks and purples all summer long

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Free flowering from June to August
    • Bright pink and purple blooms that bees love!

    Currently out of stock

  • Bee's Primula | Primula Beesiana Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Bee's Primula | Primula beesiana

    Best for bees and butterflies

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows best in partial or dappled shade
    • Flowers from April to June
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    Currently out of stock

  • Sweet Flag | Acorus calamus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Sweet Flag | Acorus calamus

    A vibrant, easy-care vertical accent

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in sun or partial shade in wet soil or water
    • A bright and versatile accent plant
    • Low maintenance and beneficial to wildlife

    Currently out of stock

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

    Golden Variegated Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'

    This adorable dwarf Acorus is so versatile

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Variegated golden yellow and green foliage
    • Grows to only 30cm high
    • Perfect for containers and mini ponds

    Currently out of stock

  • Orchid Primrose | Primula Vialii Pond Plants
    £25
    £25

    Orchid Primrose | Primula vialii

    Striking conical spikes of lilac

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Ideal for partly shaded or sunny gardens
    • Striking lilac flowers from June to July
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    Currently out of stock

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

    Yellow Water Lily | Nuphar lutea

    Fragrant, floating buttercups

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from June to August
    • Perfect for larger ponds and lakes

    Currently out of stock

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

    Drumstick Primula | Primula denticulata

    Award winning pompoms of violet

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Happy in full sun or part shade
    • Pompoms of purple flowers from April to June
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    Currently out of stock

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

    Iris sibirica 'Snow Queen'

    Frost white and majestic

    • 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

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

    Iris pseudacorus 'Alba'

    Elegant creamy white tones

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Perfect for medium and large ponds

    Currently out of stock

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

    Bulley's Primrose | Primula bulleyana

    Superb sunset colours

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from March to June
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    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 your pond

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Loves a sunny spot by the pond
    • Flowers throughout March and April
    • RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Currently out of stock

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

    Giant Pickerel Weed

    Beautiful and beloved by bees

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Spikes of lavender blue flowers from July to September
    • A taller version of Pontederia cordata

    Currently out of stock

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

    Swamp Marsh Marigold | Caltha palustris 'Plena'

    Golden yellow, fully double rosettes

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Prefers full sun but will be fine in partial shade
    • Spectacular spring blooms from March to April
    • Ideal for adding colour to pond edges

    Currently out of stock

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

    Wild Primrose | Primula vulgaris

    A carpet of scent and colour

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Loves a partly shaded spot
    • Long flowering from January to May
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit

    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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