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 (44)Ferns (34)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • Golden Variegated Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Golden Variegated Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'

    Compact and oh-so versatile

    • Narrow, strappy leaves (chartreuse and green)
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Full sun is best for this plant
    • Perfect for containers and mini ponds

    2 options available

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  • Sweet Galingale | Cyperus longus Pond Plants
    From £35
    From £35

    Sweet Galingale | Cyperus longus

    Easy to grow for *big* impact

    • Arching foliage with nutty brown blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July to August

    3 options available

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  • Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'

    Superb rainbow of mottled leaves

    • Incredible variegated foliage, white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Summer flowering from May to September

    3 options available

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

    Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria 'Robert'

    Towering bog garden blooms

    • Fuchsia pink flower spires
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September

    3 options available

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  • Lobelia cardinalis | Cardinal Flower Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Lobelia cardinalis | Cardinal Flower

    An injection of pond edge colour

    • Vivid scarlet flower spikes
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Happy in full sun or partial shade
    • Late summer colour from August to October

    1 option available

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  • Varigated Water Dropwort 'Flamingo' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Varigated Water Dropwort 'Flamingo'

    Wonderfully-variegated leaves

    • Gorgeous tri-coloured foliage, dainty flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers throughout July and August

    3 options available

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  • Gardener's Garters | Ribbon Grass Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Gardener's Garters | Ribbon Grass

    A fabulous two-toned bunchgrass

    • Stylishly-striped ribbons of foliage
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade

    5 options available

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  • Iris pseudacorus 'Flore Pleno' Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Iris pseudacorus 'Flore Pleno'

    A prolific favourite

    • Gorgeous yellow blooms on vertical stems
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    2 options available

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  • Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides

    The most delightful pastel blue

    • Stunning blue and yellow blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from May to September

    Currently out of stock

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

    Bog Pimpernel | Anagallis tenella

    Low-growing loveliness

    • An evergreen carpet of tiny pink blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Long flowering period from June to September

    Currently out of stock

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

    Miniature Bulrush | Typha minima

    Perfect for smaller ponds

    • Slender leaves, small 'cattail' seedheads
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • Flowers from July to August

    Currently out of stock

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

    Water Mint | Mentha aquatica

    Minty freshness inbound

    • Aromatic foliage with dainty flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July right through to October

    Currently out of stock

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

    Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia

    Bright, cheery and compact

    • Adorable little buttercup flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Summer flowering from June to August

    Currently out of stock

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

    Corkscrew Rush | Juncus effusus spiralis

    Superb spiralling rush stems

    • Incredible corkscrew, twisting stems
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Attracts wildlife (including dragonflies!)

    Currently out of stock

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

    Pickerel Weed | Pontederia cordata

    Lilac-blue flower spikes

    • Superb thimble-like, blue blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Loves a sunny spot
    • Free flowering from July to September

    Currently out of stock

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

    Watercress | Rorippa nasturtium aquaticum

    Attractive and delicious!

    • Beautiful small, white blooms, tasty leaves
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Blooms from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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

It’s hard to look past irises when it comes to the conversation of marginals. Yellow flag irises (Iris pseudacorus), Louisiana irises (Iris louisiana) and Japanese water irises (Iris ensata) all thrive in shallow water, their distinctive fan-shaped flowers and blade-like foliage adding regal elegance wherever they’re found. For something with a bit more spread or bushiness, opt for the mat-forming bog pimpernel (Anagallis tenella) or the tufted water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquaticum).

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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