|
Oregon Aquatics
Print this page |
Water Lilies
Roots submerged, leaves on the surface and flowers on or above the
surface. |
Hardy Water Lilies (Nymphaea)
Zones 3 to 10. Lily pads help shade water,
limiting algae growth. Blooms add color and fragrance to ponds. Most varieties
need at least 3 to 4 hours of direct light to bloom well. Grow in medium to
large ponds in containers which provide plenty of room for roots. Winter over at
the bottom of your pond to prevent roots from freezing. |
Floater
Roots submerged, leaves and stems free-floating on or just below the
surface and flowers, if any, on or above the surface. |
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Zones 9 and 10. Fleshy floater with dark
green leaves and occasional lovely lavender flowers. Prolific plants help purify
water and balance pH, control algae, trailing roots provide spawning sites for
fish. Grow in full sun, partial shade. Blooms summer. |
Anacharis (Elodea densa)
Zones 5 to 10. Excellent oxygenating plant. Small
leafy sprigs grow along the bottom of the pond. Tiny white flowers Helps control
algae, provides food and spawning sites for fish. Blooms summer. |
Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae)
Zone 6. Small floater with fleshy water
lily-like leaves. Grows in clumps. Good oxygenator for the small pond. Blooms
summer. |
Water Lettuce (Pistia stratoides)
Zone 10. Unusual furry and ribbed leaves.
Looks like small cabbage floating on the pond surface. Tropical floater. Blooms
summer.
|
Marginals
Roots submerged, leaves and flowers clearly above the surface.
|
Bog Plants
Roots in moist soil but not permanently submerged in water, leaves
and flowers clearly above the surface. |
Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
Zones 5 to 10. Native North American wetland
plant with large arrowhead-shaped leaf. White apple blossom-like flowers.
Prefers water depth of 3 to 6 inches over top of pot. |
Blue Iris (Iris versicolor)
Zones 4. Narrow gray-green leaves. Falls are
slate-blue with some yellow blotching. Blooms in early to midspring. Full sun or
partial shade. Clump-forming habit. Height 1’. |
Dwarf Cattail (Typha laxmanii)
Zone 4. Thin and delicate leaves with slightly
curled tips. Strong vertical foliage and catkins. Small cattails only 1” to 3”
long. Needs water depth of 4” to 12” to of pond. |
Miniature Cattail (Typha minima)
Zone 3. Unusual small cattail. Very thin
delicate leaves. Cattails barely 1” long. Good for specimen planting. Needs
water depth of 1” to 6” over top of pot. |
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinals)
Zone 3. Lovely, prolific bloomer with
bright red trumpet-like flowers. Prefers moist soil, but not flooded conditions.
May need to be staked. Partial shade. |
Chameleon Plant (Houttuynia cordata)
Zone 5. Variegated red, green and pale
yellow groundcover with heart-shaped leaves. Delicate white flowers with green
centers. Water depth 1” to 3” over top of pot. Full sun to partial shade. |
Dwarf Papyrus (Cyperus haspan viviparous)
Zone 10. Tropical plant. Grows 12”
to 24”. Wispy leaf cluster at tips of thin stems. Flowers inconspicuous. Needs
full sun. Water depth 1” to 6” over pot. |
Dwarf Umbrella Plant (Cyperus alternifolius)
Zones 9-11. Umbrella-like whorls
of green foliage atop short, hollow stems. Insignificant pompom-like seed heads.
Graceful and slender plants grow 1-2’ tall. Bring indoors during winter. Grow in
moist soil or in water up to 6” deep.
|
Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)
Zones 3-9. Slender hollow stems up to 4’ tall.
Good fine textured vertical acent. Grow in partial to full shade. Grows in wet
soil or shallow water. Can become invasive; grow in containers. |
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
Zone 5-10. Single yellow flowers in
spring/summer. Round deep green leaves with serrated edges. Grows 12” to 18”.
Plant in shade for continuous bloom. Water depth of 1” to 6” over top of pot. |
Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Zone 4. Trailing stems small, round leaves.
Clusters of bright yellow flowers all summer. Prefers sun to partial shade.
Water depth 1” over top of pot. Blooms in summer. |
Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens)
Zone 5. Thick stems with small lavender blue
flowers. Prefers water depth of 3-6” over top of pot.
|
Parrot’s Feather (Myriophyllum aquatica)
Zone 4. Feathery blue-green foliage
floats along pond’s surface. A prolific bloomer. Blooms summer. |
Pickerelweed (Pontadera cordata)
Zone 3. Shiny deep green, lance shaped
leaves. Purple, blue or white flower clusters at the top of the plant. Prefers
water depth of 1” to 6” over to of pot. Full sun. |
Umbrella Plant (Cyperus alternifolius)
Zone 8. Tall, umbrella-like green
foliage, with pom-pom like seed heads. 2’ to 4’ tall, good accent or background
plant. Needs water depth of 1” to 8” over pot. |
Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus variegata)
Zone 7. Low growing grass
like perennial with green and yellow striping. Inconspicuous cream colored
flowers. Grows to 12”. Full sun/partial shade. Water depth 1” to 6” over top of
pot. |
Yellow Flag ( Iris pseudacorus)
Zone 5. Parrot green leaves accent stunning
yellow flowers. Noted for its toughness, vigor and size. Prolific bloomer. Heigh
4’- 5’. |
Floating Heart (Nymphoides peltata)
Zone 4 Miniature water lily-like leaves
with buttercup-type flowers borne in small clusters. A useful plant for giving
rapid surface cover. |