Growing guide

How to grow aquatic and bog plants

These plants bring garden ponds to life. They grow either in the water or in the damp ground around the edges, and they help to blend a pond into the garden with their colourful flowers and lush foliage. Aquatic plants can also improve the health of your pond, oxygenating the water and providing food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife.

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Quick facts

Most are easy to grow
Many flower in spring or summer
Plant in spring
Different types like sun or shade
Often vigorous and fast growing
Make new plants by division or from cuttings

All you need to know

What are aquatic and bog plants?

Aquatic plants live in water. Waterlilies are probably the best-known example, but there are many other beautiful options to choose from that will thrive in garden ponds, large or small.

There are four main types:

Marginals, which grow in shallow water, near the edge of a pond
Bog plants which grow in perpetually wet to damp soil around a pond. See our guide to a bog garden
Deep-water aquatics, which live in the deeper water, usually near the middle of a pond
Floating plants, which float freely in the water

Aquatic plants can help to keep your pond healthy, by oxygenating the water, providing habitats for wildlife, and preventing unwanted algae taking hold.

Choosing the right aquatic and bog plants

It’s important to choose aquatic plants that will grow well in your particular pond. The main factors to consider are their depth requirements and overall size.

Some aquatics can thrive in a range of depths, while others are quite specific. You will have a wider choice if your pond has different depths, maybe with shelved or sloping edges. Some plants prefer still water, so wouldn’t be suitable if you have flowing water or a fountain.

When buying, always check the plant label to see how large the plant will eventually grow. Many aquatics are vigorous and can soon outgrow a small pond – beware in particular of invasive aquatics, which can be difficult to control once established. Still, there are plenty of beautiful, well-behaved aquatic plants for small or even tiny ponds.

Bog plants too are often large and vigorous, so choose varieties to suit the amount of space you have available. These plants love damp soil, but not standing water – if the area is regularly under water for long periods, choose pond marginals instead. Most bog plants like rich soil, containing plenty of organic matter, and full sun, although some can tolerate shade.

If you want to increase the wildlife in your garden, choose a range of aquatic and bog plants that provide food, shelter or breeding sites for many different creatures. For more tips, see our guide to wildlife ponds and our 2019 Wild About Gardens pond campaign.

Before buying, always check the label to ensure the plants will thrive in the conditions in your pond or bog garden.

Getting the right look

Consider what you want from your plants visually, such as:

Flowers and foliage – some aquatics and bog plants produce colourful blooms, while others are prized purely for their foliage.
Vertical or horizontal? Some aquatics spread out over the pond surface, such as waterlilies, while others rise vertically out of the water, such as reeds and irises. A mix of both should provide plenty of visual interest.
Style – do you want a natural look, using mainly native plants, or something more exotic, with vibrant flowers and lush foliage?
Evergreen or deciduous? Evergreen plants retain their leaves all year round, while deciduous plants lose their leaves over winter, then sprout afresh in spring.

How and what to buy

For the widest choice of aquatic and bog plants, visit specialist nurseries, either in person or online.

Larger garden centres may also stock bog plants, and sometimes aquatics too, especially if they also sell preformed ponds and water features.

Beware of buying invasive aquatic plants, as they can soon swamp a garden pond and can be hard to get rid of once established.

Aquatic plants are sold either bare-root (without compost), or already planted in aquatic baskets. Bare-root plants are often cheaper and, being smaller and lighter, are more suitable for mail order. Just be sure to plant them as soon as they arrive.

Bog plants are usually sold in 9cm (3½in) pots or larger.

Where to get ideas and advice

To explore and narrow down your potential planting choices, you can:

Visit gardens with ponds, lakes and water features, and see which plants you like best. Late spring and summer are good times to view them in their prime. RHS Gardens feature a range of aquatic and bog plants, and all are labelled, so you can note down your favourites.
Visit specialist aquatic nurseries, in person or online.
Go to RHS Find a Plant and search for ‘aquatics’ to browse the photographs and plant descriptions, and find out where to buy them.

While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

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How to grow aquatic and bog plants

Quick facts

All you need to know

What are aquatic and bog plants?

Attracting wildlife

Choosing the right aquatic and bog plants

Getting the right look

How and what to buy

Where to get ideas and advice

When to plant

Where to plant

How to plant

Watering

Feeding

Caring for older plants

Discover aquatic plants

Love gardening

Get involved

Join the RHS