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.

Need help picking?
Pond plants (157) Water irises (20)Water lilies (44)Ferns (34)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Variegated Reed Sweet Grass | Glyceria maxima variegata Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Variegated Reed Sweet Grass | Glyceria maxima variegata

    Elegant variegated foliage

    • Long blades of strappy, cream-lined leaves
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Summer flowering from June to August

    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

  • 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

  • Star Grass | Dichromena colorata Pond Plants
    £15
    £15

    Star Grass | Dichromena colorata

    Your pond's new star!

    • Distinctive starry, white flower bracts
    • Zone 1 to 2 - Pondside to pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to November

    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!

Need help picking?

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

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

Fighting plastic waste

Delivering fresh from the nursery

Supporting UK growers