Pond plants not only look good and provide habitat for insects and wildlife, but they also help oxygenate the water and absorb nutrients from the water to help keep it healthy.
Plants are essential for a healthy pond, and a good balance between plant species helps manage water quality, nutrients, shade and oxygen levels. A pond wouldn’t be much good without them!
As a result, we recommend every pond owner give a lot of thought to what water plants they use, especially in smaller ponds. To help you out, our blog on the best oxygenating plants for small ponds in the UK features our best recommendations that are easy to look after too.
The benefits of plants within a pond
Plant choice is just as important as fish choice. That may be a controversial viewpoint, but it’s true.
Your choice of pond plants can have a huge impact on the look and health of your pond. While pond pumps and pond filters play an important role in keeping water moving and clear, plants provide an equally vital layer of natural support.
Pond plants can:
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Oxygenate water: The process of photosynthesis produces essential oxygen, which, when released into the water, can keep your fish healthy.
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Filter nutrients and pond water: Plants will absorb excess nutrients from pond water, which helps reduce algae, keep the pond water clear and help maintain the water quality fish need.
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Help achieve pond balance: Ponds have a fine natural balance that will maintain itself over time. The properties of plants help maintain water pH, regulate oxygen levels, provide shade and a lot more.
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Provide a natural habitat: Ponds are about much more than just the fish. They provide essential habitat for insects, birds and other life too.
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Provide aesthetic appeal: Last, but definitely not least, pond plants provide a much richer vista than a pond alone. They can add colour, depth and texture and be the one thing that makes your pond stand out.
To get you started on building out your pond, below are our 10 best plants for small ponds. Each delivers the colour, ease of use and helpful properties we look for:
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Water Lilies (Nuphar and Nymphaea spp.)
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Dwarf Water Lily (Nymphaea leibergii)
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Dwarf Papyrus (Cyperus isocladus)
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Tiny Rush (Isolepis cernua)
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Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus)
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Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
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Water Shamrock (Marsilea quadrifolia)
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Sweetflag (Acorus gramineus variegatus)
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Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
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Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Water Lilies (Nuphar and Nymphaea spp.)
You have to be careful with water lilies in small ponds as they can block light, but they look beautiful and provide excellent habitat.
They are also easy to care for and to plant. Set them in a pot and drop to the bottom of the pond, the water lily will take care of the rest.
Dwarf Water Lily (Nymphaea leibergii)
If your small pond is a little too small for standard water lilies, consider the dwarf water lily.
It has a very similar flower and beneficial properties, but on a smaller scale. Ideal in between 1-18” of water, the lily is smaller, so it won’t take up as much space or block as much light.
Dwarf Papyrus (Cyperus isocladus)
Dwarf papyrus is a simple green plant that grows tall to add depth to your planting. These are easy to grow and largely take care of themselves, so they offer a lot of benefits to a pond.
Planting dwarf papyrus alongside other plants offers the chance to add multiple dimensions to a display. They can take partial shade or full sun, so they’re flexible too.
Tiny Rush (Isolepis cernua)
Tiny rush is a slender, minimalist marginal plant that adds texture to your pond. It’s sometimes known as the “Fibre Optic Plant” due to its silvery-white heads resembling fibre optic cables.
This plant is very low-maintenance for simple management. All you need to do is simply trim its dead stems in spring.
Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus)
Sweet flag is a grass that grows on the edge of a pond. It grows in clumps, so it can be easily controlled and works well at creating a natural border.
The grass also comes as a dwarf variety, which could work for even the smallest pond.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Lovers of colour should try the cardinal flower. It’s a rich red plant that attracts insects like a magnet. It’s an excellent attractant for bees and hummingbirds and can grow in even the smallest pond.
They should be planted on the edge of the pond, an inch or two below the waterline. They can grow up to four feet in height, but can easily be controlled to fit within a scheme.
Water Shamrock (Marsilea quadrifolia)
Water shamrock is an attractive, oxygenating plant that bears some resemblance to four-leaf clovers (that may well bring you some good luck!)
These pretty plants are the ideal option for adding some greenery to your pond. However, they can spread quite quickly, so they should be planted in aquatic baskets.
Sweetflag (Acorus gramineus variegatus)
Sweetflag is a flexible grass that works well for small ponds. It has a nice green and white blade that offers light relief for more colourful arrangements.
The grass can cope with a wide range of growing conditions and water depths, so it could work well in just about any pond configuration you could think of.
Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)
Hornwort can float freely in a pond, but we recommend planting it in smaller ponds to keep control. They have a delicate brush-like appearance that adds colour and character.
Hornwort is also an excellent oxygenator, so if you’re looking to increase levels in your pond, this is an excellent choice.
Yerba Mansa (Anemopsis californica)
Our final suggestion for a small pond plant is the yerba mansa. It’s a small, white-flowered plant that maintains a modest size.
The white flower contrasts nicely with many of the others in this list and can provide that calming middle ground within a pond. It flowers all summer long, too, which is a bonus!
Useful Fish Pond Products at Closer Pets
After finding out all of our recommendations for the best oxygenating plants for small ponds in the UK, you can get started on populating your pond with these equally useful and aesthetically pleasing plants!
At Closer Pets, we have plenty of fish pond supplies that can make looking after your finned friends all the easier. With many high-quality, convenient automatic fish feeders, pond pumps and pond filters, you can find the ideal options to make managing your pond all the easier.
If you’d like to find out more about our fish pond products and how they can help, get in touch with us today and we’ll be more than happy to help you out!