25 Aquatic Plants You Should Add To Your Natural Water Features

So, you've got a natural water feature? It could be a swimming pond, a brook, or even a waterfall. To transform that spot from nice to magical, aquatic plants could be your allies. However, this isn't merely about elevating the aesthetics of your water feature. It's about smart picks that vibe well with your garden and what the environment is throwing at you. Different aquatic plants mean different perks: think purifying the water, battling the algae, or supporting local wildlife. Some stabilize the soil and water's oxygen levels, keeping things balanced and vibrant. With 26 aquatic plants to choose from below, you're all set to make your natural garden water feature the crowning glory of your outdoor space.

Aquatic plants for natural water features come in many varieties. Picture the laid-back charm of floating plants first. Icons like water lilies aren't just a feast for the eyes; they also throw shade (the good kind) to keep the underwater community cool and happy. Then there's the sophisticated crowd: marginal plants. From cattails to the sunny faces of yellow irises, these guys add layers and character to the edges of your natural pond. And let's not forget about the emergent plants like the American water plantain that stand tall, dipping their roots below while reaching for the skies. Lastly, meet the submerged plants. Stealthy workers like water hawthorne and water buttercups are the behind-the-scenes stars, oxygenating water and keeping the clarity and health of your natural water feature on point.

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) is a perennial rocking show-stopping spikes of blue and purple flowers. It keeps the floral show running in fall and summer, luring pollinators like bees. Perennial, deer-resistant, and emergent, it flaunts its colors on sturdy stems, with its heart-shaped leaves spanning up to 10 inches and offering premium shade for fish. Pickerelweed is happy in zones 3 to 10, soaking up anything from full sun to a bit of shade. While it's easy-going maintenance-wise, it spreads its wings (read, roots) quickly. So, you might need to track down and dig up the rhizomes.

Arrow arum (Peltandra virginica) boasts large, arrowhead-shaped leaves, paired with light-yellow spikes wrapped in what looks like spandex and perched on lengthy stalks. The flowers unfurl from late spring to mid summer, but if you reside in the tropics, you get their floral show all year long. This emergent aquatic plant for ponds enjoys full sunshine in zones 5 through 10. Its tough foliage makes perfect hideouts for aquatic wildlife, the berries are a snack for wading birds, and the aromatic flowers attract pollinators, particularly Chloropid flies. You could pop it directly along your pond's edge or in submerged baskets filled with loamy soil.

Hard rush (Juncus inflexus) sports powder-covered, cylindrical,bluish-green, almost dark green stems with a bit more crunch than soft rush. A master of propagating via rhizomes and seeds, it loves to huddle in clamps that offer prime nesting, feeding, and hiding spots for wetlands birds. It stands proud at 1.5 feet and favors sunny to partially shadowy spots in USDA zones 4 to 9. Sometime between late spring and early summer, this emergent aquatic plant for natural swimming ponds unfurls clusters of red or brown. It doesn't ask for much, although a spring trim will help stop it from getting too wild.

Wondering what to put around a pond? Meet the cattails (Typha latifolia), water's edge stars decked out with flattened, gray-green leaves and flaunting funky, cylindrical spikes in brown, gold, or yellow hues in late spring to early summer. Its leaves are a big hit with amphibians and birds seeking nesting spots.  USDA hardiness zones 3 to 10 are where cattails thrive best. They are also sun worshippers but can deal with a bit of shade. Come late summer, a bit of cattail management will keep things from getting crowded— Pull out some roots or trim the bushes.

Fancy giving your natural pond a tropical twist? Look no further than Canna lilies (Canna). These beauties are an eye-catcher, with towering stems painted in shades of reddish-purple, broad, sheathing leaves, and showy flowers in fall and summer. From a petite 1.5 feet to a whopping 8 feet, there's a height for every space. Plus, their dazzling colors invite pollinators like hummingbirds. Happy in USDA zones 7 to 10, Canna lily does its best with a good dosage of sunshine. It's easy-going, though you want to watch out for pesky snails and slugs that fancy a nibble on those gorgeous leaves. 

Still on the hunt for that perfect addition to your stream pond lake? The water buttercup (Ranunculus aquatilis) or white water crowfoot could be your answer. This submerged gem is a perfect pick for spacious water features where it can blanket the surface in its green and white charm. From April through September, it's adorned with pristine white blossoms that make for an absolute pollinator magnet. Plus, it's a favorite snack for puddle ducks. But here's a heads-up: while this plant for natural ponds is a sight to behold, it's got a mean streak when it comes to its sap, which can be quite the skin irritant (via USDA). 

Goldenclub (Orontium aquaticum) struts its stuff with elliptical, blue to green, often-floating leaves that extend up to 18 inches, fashioning the perfect hideouts for select aquatic wildlife. It's also nicknamed Neverwet because the leaves just won't hold onto water. From mid-spring to early summer, this plant unpacks orange-yellow flower spikes. Plus, you don't want to miss the follow-up act of green fruits. Goldenclub lives its best life in constantly flowing water in USDA zones 8 to 10 areas with full to dappled sunshine. However, handle the plant with care — touching the sap may cause skin irritation (via North Carolina Extension).

You might have stumbled upon the water mimosa or the sensitive plant (Neptunia oleracea), a delightful floating aquatic plant boasting a lush carpet of spongy stems outfitted with feather-like leaves that fold inwards with the slightest touch. Those small, oblong green leaves also cast shade for the fish beneath. In summer, the water mimosa gets lively with ball-shaped greenish-yellow inflorescences. On land, however, water mimosa's initially spongy stems lose buoyancy. It grows best in USDA zones 9 to 12 with access to partial to full sun. In some tropical zones, this plant loves its space a bit too much, as evidenced by dense mats that can smother native fish.

Feeling like your space could use a splash of the tropics? Check out the mosaic plant (Ludwigia sedioides), a perennial flourishing in warm water and plenty of sunshine in hardiness zones 10 to 11. This beauty features fragile, reddish stems holding up a bounty of serrated, diamond-shaped leaves splashed with shades of green and red. Throughout summer, expect to see cup-shaped yellow flowers making a debut. A heads-up: the mosaic plant is quite the sprawler, so you might find yourself trimming it a bit. And if you're considering pairing it with fish in your pond, think again; its delicate stems can snap easily from fish activities.

The cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis L.) is a herbaceous perennial you can always count it on to add color to a dull corner in your water feature. This eager grower, comfortable in USDA zones 3 to 9, thrives in full sun but won't fuss too much in a bit of shade. Its green, lance-shaped leaves stretch 3 to 6 inches long, setting the stage for a late-summer to mid-fall show of intense-colored flowers that are a magnet for buzzing and fluttering pollinators. It's also a snack for aquatic wildlife. However, it's best not to taste-test this plant, as it packs a poisonous punch if ingested in sizable amounts (via North Carolina Extension).

A free-floating marvel in the Salviniaceae family, the mosquito fern (Azolla caroliniana) has feathery fronds that quickly team up to form lush mats. This aquatic plant is a chameleon of sorts: under the full glare of the sun, the bright green look shifts to a stunning red. The mosquito fern is a powerhouse in natural swimming ponds and water gardens, thanks to its ability to suppress mosquito populations and boost nitrogen levels. It does well under full sun and dappled shade in USDA zones 7 and 11, but it can hog more than its share of sunlight and oxygen in places it's not originally from. 

Swamp lily, or wild calla (Calla palustris), is an excellent fit for shallow and partially shadowy water features. Among the poisonous plants that look beautiful in gardens, it shoots up between 6 to 12 inches, flaunting green, heart-shaped leaves and attractive, sweet-smelling, white or pink flowers that pop up from late summer to early fall. It's an emergent perennial that's pretty easy to keep around and thrives in partial shade in the cooler zones 2 to 6. Warning: While a looker bloomer, swamp lily's calcium-oxalate-laden leaves don't play nice when eaten, leading to nasty effects like severe mouth pain (via North Carolina Extension).