Ever wondered if pond plants are important to the quality of your fish pond? Not only do they look great, but they provide wonderful benefits to your pond water and fish. Our detailed guide explains why pond plants are important, what types there are and how you can plant these yourself.
Koi ponds are beautiful backyard features that allow you to raise colorful koi fish. However the ideal koi pond contains more than just fish – aquatic plants play an integral role in maintaining water quality and providing shade, shelter and ambience.
When selecting plants for a koi pond, it’s crucial to choose species that will thrive in your climate and pond conditions. Water lilies, lotuses, and marginal plants like iris and cattails are excellent choices. Floating plants like water hyacinth and water lettuce help control algae growth and provide cover. Oxygenating plants keep the water healthy for your fish.
Here are the top 10 best plants to include in your koi pond
1. Water Lily
Water lilies are classic pond plants prized for their elegant floating leaves and beautiful flowers in shades of white, pink, yellow, and red. They provide shade and habitat for koi, and help absorb excess nutrients in the water. Popular water lily varieties include tropical day bloomers that open in the morning and close at night. Hardy water lilies can withstand colder climates.
2. Lotus
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) features large, rounded leaves up to 2 feet wide that resemble lily pads. They float gracefully on the pond’s surface. From midsummer to early fall, lotuses produce huge and exquisitely fragrant flowers in white, pink, yellow, and red. Lotus help shade the water and control algae. Their leaves, flowers, roots, and seeds are edible.
3. Water Hyacinth
Known for their lush green leaves and stunning purple flowers, water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) float freely on the water. They help absorb nutrients, provide shade, and oxygenate the water. However, water hyacinths reproduce rapidly so you’ll need to thin them regularly.
4. Water Lettuce
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) forms a thick, floating mat of soft green leaves that resemble miniature heads of lettuce. They help filter excess nutrients, control algae growth, and regulate water temperature. Water lettuce spreads readily in warm weather and may need thinning.
5. Duckweed
Duckweed (Lemna minor) is a tiny floating plant that resembles a green dot or leaf, hence its nickname “pond snow.” It multiples rapidly to form a dense floating mat. Duckweed shades and cools the water while absorbing dissolved nutrients. It’s a food source for koi and waterfowl.
6. Water Iris
Native irises like blue flag iris (Iris versicolor) thrive planted in damp soil at the edges of koi ponds. Some types can grow fully submerged. Irises have stiff, erect leaves and produce striking springtime blooms that come in many colors. They help absorb excess nutrients in runoff.
7. Horsetail Reed
Horsetail reed (Equisetum hyemale) is a bamboo-like, moisture-loving plant. It has evergreen, think stems with alternating bands of green and brown. Horsetail grows in clumps at pond edges, stabilizing banks with an extensive root system. This ancient plant is unfazed by koi nibbles. It filters water and removes toxins.
8. Floating Heart
Floating heart (Nymphoides peltata) is a pretty aquatic plant with small heart-shaped leaves that float on the water’s surface, dotted by small yellow flowers in summer. Submerged foliage under the water provides habitat for fish. Floating heart grows rapidly. It requires regular thinning to prevent it crowding out other plants.
9. Parrot’s Feather
Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) is a popular oxygenating pond plant. Feathery blue-green foliage adds texture and softens pond edges. Parrot’s feather grows in submerged clumps or trailing out of pots. It can help prevent algae by absorbing nutrients. But it can spread aggressively so containment is needed.
10. Anacharis
Anacharis (Egeria densa), also called anacharis or Brazilian waterweed, is a fast-growing underwater oxygenator. It produces lush bright green foliage that provides food and shelter for fish. Anacharis grows up to 10 feet tall and helps control algae. It flourishes fully submerged in sunlit water up to 15 feet deep. It may need occasional thinning.
When selecting plants, consider your climate and pond conditions. Favor native plants over exotic imports, which may become invasive. Place plants in pots sunk into the pond floor, tiny aquatic baskets, or the pond margins. Include a mix of surface and submerged plants for well-rounded water quality and aesthetic benefits. With the right plants, your koi pond will soon be a thriving backyard oasis!
What are the best oxygenating pond plants?
At Complete Koi & Aquatics, we like the following:
Scirpus Cernuus – Fibre Optic Plant
- Evergreen oxygenator (providing the Winter is mild) with green grass-like stems which extend up to 20cm.
- Tiny white flowers appear during June – August, on the tips of the stems which look like sources of light, hence the nickname Fibre Optic Plant.
Myriophyllum Crispatum – Upright Water Milfoil
- This oxygenator can either be planted as a marginal or fully submerged up to depths of 40cm.
- Perennial aquatic oxygenator with bright green feathery foliage.
- Myriophyllum plant stems typically extend 60cm.
Ceratophyllum Demersum – Hornwort
- Deep water native oxygenator which will grow up to depths of 60cm.
- This is a fantastic plant as it is completely adapted to UK weather and so will thrive in almost any pond situation.
- Typically floats freely in the pond and will die back in the winter.
- As spring comes round, modified stem buds will begin to grow again with the warming temperatures.
Why are pond plants important?
Pond plants are the backbone of a balanced aquatic ecosystem. In the same way land plants and trees provide oxygen for terrestrial life, pond plants do the same for aquatic life. Aquatic plants photosynthesise, consuming Carbon Dioxide and turning it into dissolved Oxygen. This allows aquatic animals to breathe but also stops water stagnating. It is important to note at this point, that there is a specific group of submerged aquatic plants known as ‘Oxygenators’ which are best suited to this role in a pond. Examples of such plants include:
- Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort)
- Hottonia Palustris (Water Violet)
- Myriophyllum verticillatum (whorl-leaf watermilfoil)
- Ranunculus aquatilis (White Water-Crowfoot).
Plants can provide cover and shade for ponds and their inhabitants. This can reduce predation from animals such as herons, by reducing visibility. In addition to this, a well-covered pond rich in shade will often remain cooler. This again reduces algal blooms (as algae thrives in warm water) but also increases oxygen exchange. Plants perform better in cooler conditions; therefore, by having a mixture of marginal, emergent and submerged plants, the productivity of the aquatic ecosystem will improve. Great examples of plants which will provide a pond with shade include the likes of:
- Nymphaea (Water Lilies)
- Pistia stratiotes (Water Lettuce)
- Tall marginals such as Iridaceae (Iris)
*TOP 10* Pond Plants YOU NEED TO HAVE!
FAQ
What pond plants do koi not eat?
Koi are ravenous, and they’re not picky eaters! But Eelgrass, lotus, umbrella plants, water lettuce, and water poppy are five aquatic plants that koi fish won’t eat. We recommend getting some of these aquatic plants for your koi pond.
What is the best plant to clean pond water?
There are three plants which can act as a natural filter for your pond, keeping the water pristine and clear. These are Duck Potato, American Pondweed and Pickerel Weed. Below is a description of each and why they make such an excellent contribution to improving pond water quality.
What is the best floating plant for a koi pond?
Lotus plants are known for their large, exquisite flowers and round leaves that float on the water’s surface. They thrive in Koi ponds, offering shade and helping to oxygenate the water. Lotus plants also have extensive root systems that filter the water, promoting a clean and healthy environment for the Koi.
How to keep koi pond water crystal clear?
- The ultimate aim for any fish pond owner is to be able to view and enjoy their fish. …
- Fit a UV Clarifier to clear green water. …
- Trap the waste, flush the waste. …
- Add some carbon. …
- Add some beneficial bacteria. …
- Change the pond water. …
- Use a flocculant. …
- Shade the pond.