List of Marginal Aquatic Plants in A-Z Order Using Latin Names

Marginal pond plants, name begins with   are those used around the edge of ponds and normally planted in shallow water. In the table below the preferred planting depth is shown along with time of year the aquatic pond plant flowers.

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Acorus calamus. sweet flag 60 - 100 0 - 15 summer flowers Dark green iris-like with a small, insignificant green horn-shaped bloom. Aromatic rootstock.
Acorus calamus Variegatus 50 - 80 2 - 15 summer flowers Same as the above, but with green and cream vertical striped leaves.
Acorus gramineus var. gramineus 20 - 40 0 - 5 summer flowers White-green striped leaves.
Acorus intermedius 35 - 45 0to 10 summer flowers Green leaves.
Alisma parviflorum 40 - 60 5 - 25 summer flowers Attractive round leaves
Alisma plantago-aquaticum. great water plantain 40 - 80 0 - 20 summer flowers Robust plant with broad, long stems for leaves. White flowers
Aponogeton distachyos 10 - 60 10 - 75 summer flowers Oval-shaped shaped leaves with brown spots. Sweetly scented snow-white waxy flowers with jet black anthers. Second flowering during mid winter-time
Allium schoenoprasum 50 - 80 0 winter-time Grass like tubular, mid green leaves. Starry, rose pink flowers arranged in dense globular heads.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'B'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Berula erecta. lesser water parsnip 30 - 60 0 - 10 July - September Narrow, irregularly serrate leaves. Tiny flowers.
Butomus umbellatus. flowering rush 60 - 100 3 - 25 winter-time Triangular sword shaped leaves, red in springtime turning - dark green. Rose-pink flowers are produced in umbels.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with'C'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Cella palustris. bog arum 15 - 25 3 - 25 winter-time A rambling plant with heart shaped leaves, arum-like white flowers followed by right red seed heads.
Caltha palustris. marsh marigold; king cup 30 - 50 0 - 15 springtime Slightly serrated dark green leaves with single yellow flowers.
Caltha palustris var. alba 25 - 40 0 - 10 springtime Slightly serrated dark green leaves with white single flowers.
Caltha palustris Plena 25 - 50 0 - 15 springtime As Caltha Paustris, but with double yellow flowers. Frequently has a second flowering during late summer flowers.
Caltha palustris var. polypetala 60 - 90 5 - 25 springtime Large serrated dark green foliage with large single yellow flowers.
Carex riparia. great pond sedge 90 - 120 0 - 25 winter-time A coarse grass with broad leaves and brown spikelets.
Cotula coronopifolia. brass buttons 20 - 40 0 - 20 winter-time A pretty creeping plant with numerous bright yellow flowers like buttons. An annual that seeds well and is suitable for colonizing.
Cyperus longus. sweet galingale 60 - 120 3 - 25 summer flowers Dark green grass like pendulous foliage with brown  flowers.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with  'D' and 'E'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Dicchromena colorata. star grass 40 - 60 2 - 5 winter-time - springtime Five bracks in an attractive green and white star-shaped cascade.
Equisetum hyemale 60 - 100 0 - 15   Thick bamboo types of stems, larger version of scirpoides.
Equisetum scirpoides 25 - 40 0 - 10   Attractive small spiky bamboo types stem.
Eupatorium cannabinum. hemp agrimony 60 - 120 0 - 10 springtime Large mid-green, lanceolate leaves. Reddish stem with rounded terminal heads 10  - 12 cm across of the red purple florets.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with  'G'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Geum rivale. water avens 30 - 50 0 - 15 winter-time and springtime Nodding bell shaped red flowers.
Glyceria aquatica. manna grass 50 - 80 10 - 40 winter-time A stout reed like grass with a branched panicle of greenish spikelets.
Glyceria maxima Variegata 30 - 60 3 - 25 winter-time Very vigorous plant with pinky red grass type foliage in springtime, maturing later - yellow and white. Pendulous inflorescence.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with  'H'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Hippuris vulgaris. mares tail 25 - 30 2 - 15 winter-time Stems stand stiffly out of water, densely packed with whorls of narrow foliage.
Houttuynia cordata Chameleon 20 - 50 0 - 5 springtime Red, yellow and green tricolour cordate leaves with red stems. Single white flowers.
Hydrocotyle vulgaris 30 - 40 0 - 10 winter-time Creeping habit round crenate foliage. Small white flowers

Marginal pond plants, name begins with  'I'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Water over soil in cm Flowers in Description
Iris ensata (Iris kaempferi) 60 - 90 0 - 10 summer flowers 0 winter-time winter-time Clematis flowered iris with colours varying through white, blue, red, violet and crimson,
Iris laevigata 60 - 90 0 - 90 winter-time Dark foliage with rich blue flowers. Best iris for garden ponds.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with  'J'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Juncus effusus. common rush; soft rush 30 - 120 0 - 25 winter-time Dark green stems and dark brown inflorescence.
Juncus ensifolius. sword leaved rush. 55 - 70 0 - 15 winter-time Bright green grass-like foliage, dark brown inflorescence.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with  'L'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Lobelia fulgens 80 - 100 0 - 5 springtime Purplish-red foliage and stalks bearing brilliant red flowers.
Lychnis flos-coculi. ragged robin 50 - 75 0 - 10 winter-time Ragged rose pink flowers.
Lysichiton americanus. skunk cabbage. 60 - 100 0 - 30 summer flowers Bright yellow arum- shaped and large dark green leaves.
Lysimachia nummularia. creeping jenny 10 - 15 0 - 15 springtime Creeping plant with glossy leaves, golden cup shaped flowers.
Lysimachia thyrsiflora 50 - 70 5 - 20 winter-time Dense heads of yellow flowers.
Lythrum salicaria 90 - 120 0 - 15 springtime Small, reddish- purple blooms, mid green, lanceolate leaves.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'M'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Description
Mentha aquatica. water mint 30 - 60 0 - 20 summer flowers Egg-shaped leaves,lilac flowers, mint scent
Menyanthes trifoliate. buck bean 30 - 40 5 - 30 springtime Trifoliate olive-green foliage. Delicate white flowers tipped with pink.
Mimulus Burgess 20 - 40 3 - 15 winter-time Serrated ovate leaves with yellow flowers that are blotched with red.
Myosotis scorpioides. water forget-me not 20 - 30 15 - 40 winter-time Elongated, spoon-shaped, leaves, small white blue flowers.
Myriophyllum aquaticum. parrot's feather 20 - 30 15 - 40 springtime Pale green feathery foliage and creeping habit.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'N'

Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Descriptions
Nymphoides peltata. Villarsia; water fringe   10 - 60 summer flowers A good surface cover plant having a profusion of bright yellow flowers

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'O'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Descriptions
Orontium aquaticum. golden club 30 - 50 25 - 40 summer flowers The beautiful yellow flowers appear on white stems.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'P'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Descriptions
Peltandra undulata green arrow arum 30 - 60 5 - 30 winter-time Green arum-shaped flowers are followed by green berries.
Petasites hybridus 100 - 125 0 - 5 summer flowers Perennial with deep thick root like stem. Many pink flower heads. Wide leaves.
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta. reed canary grass 75 - 150 0 - 15 summer flowers Grass type pond plant with green and white striped leaves.
Phragmites australis. norfolk reed 180 - 300 0 - 50 summer flowers Grass with broad, glossy leaves and heavy purple plumes of flowers. Stems are used for thatch.
Pontederia cordata. pickerel weed 60 - 80 10 - 30 springtime Heart-shaped green leaves with clusters of closely packed blue flowers.
Pontederia cordata var. Alba 60 - 80 10 - 30 springtime White flowers as Pontederia cordata.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'R'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Water depth over soil in cm Flowers in Descriptions
Ranunculus acris Flore Pleno 20 - 40 0 - 15 winter-time Small yellow button like flowers
Ranunculus flammula. lesser spearwort 20 - 30 5 - 20 winter-time Small leaves with branching stems holding large numbers of small yellow buttercup-shaped flowers.
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum 40 - 60 5 - 20 winter-time Dark green foliage and small white flowers.
Rumex hydrolpathum. great water dock 120 - 180 0 - 25 winter-time Bold, dark green dock-like leaves. Large flower spike

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'S'

<>Descriptions <>Large arrow-shaped leaves. Clear white flowers about 3 cm across with dark centers. <>Three types of leaves are produced, linear submerged, oval floating and arrow-shaped emergent. The attractive white flowers have dark brown centers. <>Green heart -shaped leaves with white pendulous flowers. <>Grass type foliage. Fluffy heads of white cotton-like flowers are carried on tall stems <>Cylindrical foliage with green and white horizontal stripes. Brown flowerheads. <>Tall heart shaped nettle-like leaves on square stem. <>An outstanding plant with dark green leaves and bright cream variegations. Insignificant maroon flowers. <>Grassy foliage and umbellate clusters of bell-shaped, yellow flowers. <>Swamp and water plant with erect stem, stiff iris type leaves and branched flower stem. <>A branched hairy plant with spikes of bright purple flowers.
Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in
Sagittaria latifolia. duck potato 40 - 120 5 - 40 winter-time
Sagittaria sagittifolia. arrowhead 40 - 90 5 - 40 winter-time
Saururus cernuus lizard's tail 40 - 60 0 - 20 winter-time
Scirpus angastifolius 30 - 50 3 - 10 summer flowers
Scirpus lacustris ssp. tabernaemontani Zebrinus. zebra rush 75 - 110 5 - 30 winter-time
Scrophularia auriculata. water figwort 60 - 90 0 - 15 winter-time
Scrophularia auriculata Variegata 60 - 90 0 - 10 winter-time
Sisyrinchium californicum 12 - 20 0 to5 winter-time
Sparganiun erectum. branched bur weed 60 - 100 5 - 40 winter-time
Stachys palastris 60 - 120 0 - 15 winter-time

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'T'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Descriptions
Typha angustifolia. reed mace 120 - 240 5 - 30 winter-time Long narrow shiny leaves with brown velvety flower spikes.
Typha latifolia. green reed mace 120 - 200 10 - 50 winter-time Long grassy leaves, flowers in close, cylindrical spike approx. 2 cm in diameter and 15-20 cm long.
Typha minima. miniature bull rush 40 - 60 5 - 20 winter-time Narrow round foliage with round, brown flower-heads.

Marginal pond plants, name begins with 'V' and 'Z'

Latin Name & Common Name Height cm Plant in water this deep cm Flowers in Descriptions
Veronica beccabunga. brooklime 20 - 30 0 - 15 summer flowers A very prolific succulent plant with smooth ovate leaves and clusters of bright blue flowers.
Zantedeschia aethiopica Crowborough. arum lily 50 - 100 0 - 25 springtime Glossy arrow-shaped leaves and large pure white fragrant arum flowers having a deep golden yellow spathe.