| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Description |
| Acorus calamus. sweet flag | 60 to 100 | 0 to 15 | summer | Dark green iris-like with a small, insignificant green horn-shaped bloom. Aromatic rootstock. |
| Acorus calamus Variegatus | 50 to 80 | 2 to 15 | summer | Same as the above, but with green and cream vertical striped leaves. |
| Acorus gramineus Variegatus | 25 to 35 | 0 to 5 | summer | Yellow green striped lanceolate leaves. |
| Acorus gramineus var. gramineus | 20 to 40 | 0 to 5 | summer | White-green striped lanceolate leaves. |
| Acorus intermedius | 35 to 45 | 0to 10 | summer | Green lanceolate leaves. |
| Alisma parviflorum | 40 to 60 | 5 to 25 | summer | Attractive round leaves |
| Alisma plantago-aquaticum. great water plantain | 40 to 80 | 0 to 20 | summer | Robust plant with broad, lanceolate long stemmed leaves and clusters of whitish-grey flowers |
| Aponogeton distachyos | 10 to 60 | 10 to 75 | summer | Oval-shaped shaped leaves with brown spots. Sweetly scented snow-white waxy flowers with jet black anthers. Second flowering during mid winter |
| Allium schoenoprasum | 50 to 80 | 0 | winter | Grass like tubular, mid green leaves. Starry, rose pink flowers arranged in dense globular heads. |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Description |
| Cella palustris. bog arum | 15 to 25 | 3 to 25 | winter | A rambling plant with heart shaped leaves, arum-like white flowers followed by right red seed heads. |
| Caltha palustris. marsh marigold; king cup | 30 to 50 | 0 to 15 | spring | Slightly serrated dark green leaves with single yellow flowers. |
| Caltha palustris var. alba | 25 to 40 | 0 to 10 | spring | Slightly serrated dark green leaves with white single flowers. |
| Caltha palustris Plena | 25 to 50 | 0 to 15 | spring | As Caltha Paustris, but with double yellow flowers. Frequently has a second flowering during late summer. |
| Caltha palustris var. polypetala | 60 to 90 | 5 to 25 | spring | Large serrated dark green foliage with large single yellow flowers. |
| Carex pseudocyperus | 60 to 90 | 0 to 25 | winter | Bright green, grassy leaves with drooping, many flowering spikelets of dark green |
| Carex riparia. great pond sedge | 90 to 120 | 0 to 25 | winter | A coarse grass with broad leaves and brown spikelets. |
| Carex riparia Bowles Golden | 30 to 50 | 8 to 20 | winter | Most decorative sedge for shallow water, with beautiful rich golden-yellow foliage. |
| Carex riparia Variegata. variegated pond sedge | 30 to 50 | 8 to 20 | winter | A coarse grass with broad green and white leaves. |
| Cotula coronopifolia. brass buttons | 20 to 40 | 0 to 20 | winter | A pretty creeping plant with numerous bright yellow flowers like buttons. An annual that seeds well and is suitable for colonizing. |
| Cyperus longus. sweet galingale | 60 to 120 | 3 to 25 | summer | Dark green grass like pendulous foliage with brown flowers. |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Description |
| Hippuris vulgaris. mares tail | 25 to 30 | 2 to 15 | winter | Stems stand stiffly out of water, densely packed with whorls of narrow foliage. |
| Houttuynia cordata Chameleon | 20 to 50 | 0 to 5 | spring | Red, yellow and green tricolour cordate leaves with red stems. Single white flowers. |
| Houttuynia cordata Plena | 30 to 50 | 0 to 25 | spring | The bluish-green cordate leaves are trimmed with red and grow from red stem. The semi double flowers have red flecks on the petal ends. A very attractive pool plant. |
| Hydrocotyle vulgaris | 30 to 40 | 0 to 10 | winter | Creeping habit round crenate foliage. Small white flowers |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water over soil in cm | Flowering Period | Description |
| Iris ensata (Iris kaempferi) | 60 to 90 | 0 to 10 summer 0 winter | winter | Clematis flowered iris with colours varying through white, blue, red, violet and crimson, often with bold and elaborate markings |
| Iris laevigata | 60 to 90 | 0 to 90 | winter | Dark foliage with rich blue flowers. It is probably the best iris for garden ponds. |
| Iris laevigata Colchesterensis | 60 to 90 | 0 to 20 | winter | Blue and white flowers. |
| Iris laevigata hybrids | 60 to 80 | 0 to 15 | winter | Flower colours range from ark blue to white. |
| Iris laevigata Snowdrift | 60 to 90 | 0 to 25 | winter | As iris laevigata but with superb large white blooms having six petals. |
| Iris laevigata Variegata | 50 to 60 | 3 to 10 | winter | Bright green and white foliage with blue flowers. Sometimes rather difficult to establish. |
| Iris pseudacorus. yellow flag | 60 to 100 | 0 to 25 | winter | Vigorous iris with broad green foliage and bright yellow flowers. |
| Iris pseudacorus Flore Pleno | 60 to 100 | 0 to 25 | winter | Bright yellow double flowers. |
| Iris pseudacorus var. bastardii | 60 to 100 | 0 to 25 | winter | Vigorous broad green foliage with pale cream flowers. |
| Iris pseudacorus Variegata | 60 to 100 | 0 to 15 | winter | As Iris pseudacorus but has attractive green and yellow leaf variegations. |
| Iris sibirica | 60 to 100 | 0 to 10 | winter | An attractive group of summer flowering irises. The blooms make good cut flowers and there are many good varieties in cultivation. |
| Iris versicolor Kermesina | 60 to 100 | 0 to 25 | winter | The foliage is 2 to 3 cm wide and 50 to 60 cm long. Blue flower with spotted yellow throat. |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Description |
| Lobelia fulgens | 80 to 100 | 0 to 5 | spring | Purplish-red foliage and stalks bearing brilliant red flowers. |
| Lobelia siphilitica | 45 to 90 | 0 to5 | winter | A handsome species with lanceolate, light green leaves and bright blue flowers each 2 cm long. |
| Lychnis flos-coculi. ragged robin | 50 to 75 | 0 to 10 | winter | Ragged rose pink flowers. |
| Lysichiton americanus. skunk cabbage. | 60 to 100 | 0 to 30 | summer | Bright yellow arum- shaped are followed by very large dark green leaves. |
| Lysichiton camtschatcensis | 40 to 80 | 0 to 30 | summer | As Lysimachia americanus but with white flowers. |
| Lysimachia nummularia Aurea | 10 to 25 | 0 to 15 | spring | As Lysimachia nummularia but with golden leaves and yellow flowers. |
| Lysimachia nummularia. creeping jenny | 10 to 15 | 0 to 15 | spring | Creeping plant with glossy round leaves about 2 cm long. Bright golden cup shaped flowers. |
| Lysimachia thyrsiflora | 50 to 70 | 5 to 20 | winter | An erect form of Lysimachia bearing dense heads of yellow flowers. |
| Lythrum salicaria | 90 to 120 | 0 to 15 | spring | An native plant with small, reddish- purple blooms, mid green, lanceolate leaves. |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Description |
| Mentha aquatica. water mint | 30 to 60 | 0 to 20 | summer | Egg-shaped serrated leaves with whorls of lilac flowers. Strong mint scent |
| Menyanthes trifoliate. buck bean | 30 to 40 | 5 to 30 | spring | Trifoliate olive-green foliage. Delicate white flowers tipped with pink. A rambling plant suitable for hiding pool edges. |
| Mimulus Burgess | 20 to 40 | 3 to 15 | winter | Serrated ovate leaves with yellow flowers that are excessively blotched with red. |
| Mimulus Calypso Hybrids | 20 to 40 | 3 to 15 | winter | Multi-coloured flowers |
| Mimulus guttas | 20 to 40 | 3 to 15 | winter | Serrated leaves with yellow flowers, heavily blotched with brown and purple. |
| Mimulus Hose-in-Hose | 20 to 40 | 3 to 15 | winter | Yellow flowers one trumpet inside another. |
| Mimulus luteus. monkey musk | 20 to 40 | 3 to 15 | winter | Serrated leaves with yellow flowers, variety marked with maroon and brown spots. |
| Mimulus luteus copper | 20 to 40 | 0 to 15 | winter | Serrated leaves with copper-orange flowers. |
| Mimulus luteus Sunset | 0 to 20 | 0 to 15 | winter | Dwarf type. Dark red flowers |
| Mimulus Queen Prize | 0 to 20 | 0 to 15 | winter | Serrated ovate leaves with variable red and yellow mottled flowers. |
| Mimulus ringens | 30 to 50 | 3 to 15 | spring | Longer and narrower leaves than the preceding varieties, but still serrated. Violet-blue flowers. |
| Myosotis scorpioides. water forget-me not | 20 to 30 | 15 to 40 | winter | Elongated, spoon-shaped, hairy leaves with clusters of small white blue flowers. |
| Myosotis scorpioides Mermaid | 20 to 30 | 15 to 40 | winter | Thicker stems and darker foliage. The larger flowers are deep blue with yellow eye. |
| Myriophyllum aquaticum. parrot's feather | 20 to 30 | 15 to 40 | spring | Very pale green feathery foliage with insignificant flowers. Strong creeping habit. Will not survive severe winter unless submerged in deep water. |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering Period | Descriptions |
| Peltandra undulata green arrow arum | 30 to 60 | 5 to 30 | winter | Firm, strongly veined, bright green leaves, also arrow-shaped. The green arum-shaped flowers are followed by green berries. |
| Petasites hybridus | 100 to 125 | 0 to 5 | summer | Perennial with deep thick root like stem. Many pink flower heads. Wide leaves. |
| Phalaris arundinacea var. picta. reed canary grass | 75 to 150 | 0 to 15 | summer | Grass type aquatic with green and white striped leaves. |
| Phalaris canariensis. canary grass | 50 to 100 | 0 to 5 | spring | Similar to arundinacea but with yellow green leaves. |
| Phragmites australis. norfolk reed | 180 to 300 | 0 to 50 | summer | A strong growing grass with broad, glossy leaves and heavy purple or violet plumes of flowers. Stems are used for thatching. |
| Pontederia cordata. pickerel weed | 60 to 80 | 10 to 30 | spring | Heart-shaped green leaves with clusters of closely packed blue flowers borne on a spike. |
| Pontederia cordata var. Alba | 60 to 80 | 10 to 30 | spring | White flowers as Pontederia cordata. |
| Pontederia cordata var. lanceolata | 120 to 150 | 5 to 30 | spring | Longer flower spikes than Pontederia cordta and more lanceolate foliage |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Descriptions |
| Ranunculus acris Flore Pleno | 20 to 40 | 0 to 15 | winter | Small yellow button like flowers |
| Ranunculus flammula. lesser spearwort | 20 to 30 | 5 to 20 | winter | Small laceolate leaves with branching stems holding large numbers of small yellow buttercup-shaped flowers. |
| Ranunculus lingua Grandiflorus. great spearwort | 60 to 90 | 10 to 30 | winter | Long ovate deep green leaves with buttercup-type flowers. |
| Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum | 40 to 60 | 5 to 20 | winter | Dark green foliage and small white flowers. |
| Rumex hydrolpathum. great water dock | 120 to 180 | 0 to 25 | winter | Bold, dark green dock-like leaves. Large flower spike |
| Rumex sanguineus. red veined dock | 90 to 110 | 0 to 15 | winter | Green ovate leaves with bright red veins. |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Descriptions |
| Sagittaria latifolia. duck potato | 40 to 120 | 5 to 40 | winter | Large arrow-shaped leaves. Clear white flowers about 3 cm across with dark centers. |
| Sagittaria sagittifolia. arrowhead | 40 to 90 | 5 to 40 | winter | Three types of leaves are produced, linear submerged, oval floating and arrow-shaped emergent. The attractive white flowers have dark brown centers. |
| Sagittaria sagittifolia var. leucopetala | 40 to 90 | 5 to 40 | winter | Arrow-shaped leaves, white flowers with yellow centers. |
| Sagittaria sagttifolia var. leucopetala Flore Pleno. double arrowhead | 50 to 80 | 10 to 20 | summer | Very large white double closely packed flowers and narrow-shaped leaves. |
| Saururus cernuus lizard's tail | 40 to 60 | 0 to 20 | winter | Green heart -shaped leaves with white pendulous flowers. |
| Scirpus angastifolius | 30 to 50 | 3 to 10 | summer | Grass type foliage. Fluffy heads of white cotton-like flowers are carried on tall stems |
| Scirpus lacustris | 100 to 200 | 5 to 40 | winter | Fat, dark green rush with clusters of chocolate brown flowers near the top of the stems. |
| Scirpus lacustris ssp. tabernaemontani Albescens | 90 to 120 | 5 to 30 | winter | Tall cylindrical foliage with green and white vertical variegations. |
| Scirpus lacustris ssp. tabernaemontani Zebrinus. zebra rush | 75 to 110 | 5 to 30 | winter | Cylindrical foliage with green and white horizontal stripes. Brown flowerheads. |
| Scrophularia auriculata. water figwort | 60 to 90 | 0 to 15 | winter | Tall heart shaped nettle-like leaves on square stem. |
| Scrophularia auriculata Variegata | 60 to 90 | 0 to 10 | winter | An outstanding plant with dark green leaves and bright cream variegations. Insignificant maroon flowers. |
| Sisyrinchium californicum | 12 to 20 | 0 to5 | winter | Grassy foliage and umbellate clusters of bell-shaped, yellow flowers. |
| Sparganiun erectum. branched bur weed | 60 to 100 | 5 to 40 | winter | Swamp and water plant with erect stem, stiff iris type leaves and branched flower stem. |
| Stachys palastris | 60 to 120 | 0 to 15 | winter | A branched hairy plant with spikes of bright purple flowers. |
| Name | Mature height in cm | Water depth over soil in cm | Flowering period | Descriptions |
| Typha angustifolia. reed mace | 120 to 240 | 5 to 30 | winter | Long narrow shiny leaves with brown velvety flower spikes. |
| Typha latifolia. green reed mace | 120 to 200 | 10 to 50 | winter | Long grassy leaves, flowers in close, cylindrical spike approx. 2 cm in diameter and 15-20 cm long. |
| Typha latifolia variegated | 120 to 200 | 10 to 30 | winter | Long green and white variegated leaves, reed mace flowers. |
| Typha laxmanii | 60 to 120 | 10 to 30 | winter | Slender plant with brown flower spike and narrow semi-cylindrical leaves. |
| Typha minima. miniature bull rush | 40 to 60 | 5 to 20 | winter | Narrow round foliage with round, brown flowerheads. |
Marginal Plants... Marginal aquatics grow in swamps and on the edges of the pond like to stand in up. They are available from tall reeds to low growing ground cover. The Marginal plants are simply planted by lowering the crates onto the marginal shelves round the edges of the pond. Here you'll find an extremely comprehensive list of pond plants that are suitable to be used as marginals. The image shows a nice simple way of planting marginal plants if you have built a liner pond