Marginal Pond Plants

Marginal pond plants are planted at pond edges, with submerged roots and emerging stems and foliage, otherwise known as emergent aquatic plants. These plants usually have their roots and crown underwater, so are perfect for shallow water or pond planting shelves. Pond perennials pair well with rocks, gravel, and taller pond plants. Floating plants positioned at your pond edge can be easily moved or divided into container ponds while deep-water marginals such as bulrush and reed plants create a scenic backdrop.

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Pond plants (157) Water irises (20)Water lilies (43)Ferns (33)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides

    Clusters of blue with sunny yellow centres

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from May to September
    • A prolifically flowering native plant

    5 options available

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  • 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

    3 options available

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  • Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria

    Eyecatching magenta blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September
    • Spectacular tall pink blooms

    6 options available

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  • Marsh Marigold Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Marsh Marigold

    Heart shaped leaves, loved by bees

    • 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

    6 options available

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  • Iris pseudacorus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus

    The UK native flag iris

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Grow in shallow water, beds or borders

    6 options available

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  • Arum Lily 'Crowborough' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Arum Lily 'Crowborough'

    Magnificent blooms for weeks

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun to partial shade
    • Huge flowers from May to August
    • A spectacular pondside plant

    3 options available

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  • Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia

    Classic UK native bulrush

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • A native plant to attract wildlife to your pond
    • Ideal for large ponds or growing in containers

    4 options available

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  • 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

    2 options available

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  • Orange Peel Plant | Houttuynia cordata 'Plena' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Orange Peel Plant | Houttuynia cordata 'Plena'

    Citrus scented with cotton white blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers from May to September
    • Prolific flowers for pond margins

    4 options available

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  • Water Mint | Mentha aquatica Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Mint | Mentha aquatica

    Aromatic and colourful

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July right through to October
    • Aromatic and attractive native plant

    5 options available

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  • Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale

    THE vertical accent plant

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Evergreen for interest all year round
    • Extrememely hardy native plant to give height to pond edges

    6 options available

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  • Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia

    Buttercup yellow flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Summer flowering from June to August
    • A native plant highly attractive to pollinators

    5 options available

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  • Pickerel Rush | Pontederia cordata Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Pickerel Weed | Pontederia cordata

    Tall, free-flowering rushes

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Loves a sunny spot
    • Free flowering from July to September
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    5 options available

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  • Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock'

    Giant flowers in deepest purple

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Moisture loving plant perfect for pond margins

    4 options available

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  • Corkscrew Rush | Juncus effusus spiralis Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Corkscrew Rush | Juncus effusus spiralis

    Eyecatching spirals of foliage

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Attracts wildlife including dragonflies
    • A must for any small pond

    4 options available

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  • 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

    2 options available

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

    Lesser Spearwort | Ranunculus flammula

    Long-flowering, floating buttercups

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowering from June to September
    • Buttercup like flowers to attract bees and butterflies

    5 options available

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  • White Robin Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    White Robin

    Star shaped snow white flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Happy in full sun or partial shade
    • Spring-Summer flowering from May to August
    • A low maintenance plant ideal for wildlife gardens

    3 options available

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  • Common Bulrush | Typha latifolia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Common Bulrush | Typha latifolia

    A haven for wildlife

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • Tall, fast growing and graceful bulrush
    • The best choice for large lakes

    4 options available

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  • Soft Rush | Juncus effusus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Soft Rush | Juncus effusus

    Fans of tall emerald green

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Best grown in full sun
    • Arching fans of emerald green stems
    • Makes an ideal perch for dragonflies

    6 options available

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  • Water Plantain | Alisma plantago aquaticum Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Plantain | Alisma plantago-aquaticum

    Tall stems of light, fragrant flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August
    • Brings height and interest to pond margins and water gardens

    3 options available

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  • Ragged Robin Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Ragged Robin

    Tall stems of rose-pink pompoms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August
    • A native plant attractive to bees and butterflies

    3 options available

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  • Slender-tufted sedge Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Slender-tufted sedge

    The ideal perch for dragonflies

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August
    • A native plant ideally suited to ponds and streams

    6 options available

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  • Mimulus cupreus | Red Emperor Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Mimulus cupreus | Red Emperor

    Brilliant red trumpet-shaped flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Summer flowering from June to August
    • A compact, colourful plant to attract pollinators

    5 options available

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  • Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium

    Mint-scented foliage with lilac blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from July to October
    • A compact Mint with lilac flowers

    3 options available

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  • Cotula coronopifolia | Brass Buttons Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Cotula coronopifolia | Brass Buttons

    Dozens of little button-shaped flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Long flowering season from May to October
    • A colourful, low maintenance plant for pond margins

    3 options available

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  • Cyperus Sedge | Carex Pseudocyperus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Cyperus Sedge | Carex pseudocyperus

    Bright tufts of lime green to attract the dragonflies

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in sun or partial shade in the pond margins
    • Flowers from May to August
    • A UK native plant, beneficial to wildlife

    6 options available

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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!

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What are marginal pond plants?

What are marginal pond plants?

Pondside (or marginal) plants are those that sit in that boggy limbo between pond and land. A liminal space where beauty flourishes at every turn. These plants thrive in wet conditions – either permanently moist soil at the edge of the pond, or more often, submerged in the shallows of the pond itself, or on a pond’s shelf. There are both spectacular flowering marginals as well as steadfast foliage plants ready to add structure, texture and contrast.

Our favourite marginal pond plants

Our favourite marginal pond plants

Marginal pond plants are nice and easy to care for; for easier maintenance we’d recommend you plant your marginals in aquatic baskets. Plant in loamy soil, amended with some aquatic compost if necessary. Scatter a shallow top-dressing of pea gravel to keep soil within the basket and to reduce the risk of fish from agitating or accidentally uprooting the plant. Routinely trim any dead or diseased plant material, and divide your plants if they’re becoming overly vigorous. If growth seems poor, then consider adding a bit of slow-release aquatic fertiliser during spring.

Caring for marginal pond plants

Caring for marginal pond plants

Marginal pond plants are nice and easy to care for; for easier maintenance we’d recommend you plant your marginals in aquatic baskets. Plant in loamy soil, amended with some aquatic compost if necessary. Scatter a shallow top-dressing of pea gravel to keep soil within the basket and to reduce the risk of fish from agitating or accidentally uprooting the plant. Routinely trim any dead or diseased plant material, and divide your plants if they’re becoming overly vigorous. If growth seems poor, then consider adding a bit of slow-release aquatic fertiliser during spring.

Happy plants make happy customers

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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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