What kind of plants to put in my fish pond or water garden in Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey

THE ROLE OF PLANTS IN A WATER GARDEN

 Aquatic plants aren't just used in the water garden to provide beauty and naturalization - they also serve the very important function of helping to balance the pond ecosystem in Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey. Their valuable biological filtration helps remove nitrogen, ammonia, nitrates, and other minerals that algae would otherwise feed on. In addition, the plants provide food, shade, and protection for the fish and wildlife that live in and around the pond. Typically, they are divided into four groups - water lilies, marginals, floating plants, and submerged plants.

Water Lilies

Water lilies are available in hardy and tropical varieties. They both come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and the leaves provide fish with shade from the heat of the summer sun, cooling the water and making algae control easier too.

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​Hardy

Tropicals

Hardy water lilies are reliably perennial from the northern reaches of Zone 3, to the subtropical areas of Zone 11. The white, pink, red, or yellow flowers float directly on the water surface and are open during the day. When cold weather comes, the foliage dies. This should be removed before winter. New leaves emerge again in the spring.

​The flowers of tropical water lilies sit above the water and come in the typical whites, yellows, pinks, and reds. Unique to tropical water lilies are the blue shades - light blue to deep purple. Flowers are also more often fragrant and there are varieties available that bloom at night.
 
Although tropical lilies are only hardy to zones 10 and 11, they can be planted in colder zones when the water temperature is consistently above 70? F and treated as annuals or over-wintered, if given proper care. In Carlisle Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey PA we are in zone 6 .

​10 POPULAR POND PLANTS

Everyone has their favorite collection of pond plants, but there might be some varieties that you haven't yet added to your water garden. We invite you to consider the following list of popular aquatic plants that make a welcome addition to any pond!

Creeping Jenny

Often used as a ground cover in terrestrial gardens, Creeping Jenny fares excellently when used in water gardening applications. Growing approximately 2 inches in height, it's a great filler to soften edges of rocks with its bright leaves creating a vivid contrast against the cool gray of wet stone. Tiny yellow flowers appear on the plant throughout summer, giving it added appeal. Creeping Jenny is a perennial and best used in Zones 3-10.

Horsetail

Horsetail Reed provides a striking architectural presence in your pond with its segmented reeds, growing to 24"in height, while the dwarf version grows to 8". Hardy to Zone 4, it's a fast spreader and you'll want to thin the plant in the summer. In the fall, cut the plant all the way down to the ground to keep the spores from spreading.

Cardinal Flower

Plant this pretty flower along the shallow edges of your pond and watch the birds flock to it. Deep burgundy foliage sets off the vibrant red flowers. The leaves are up to 8" long and the plant can grow as tall as three feet. Cardinal Flower performs best in Zones 5-9.

Mosaic Plant

The beautiful Mosaic Plant consists of red and green diamond-shaped leaves in 3-6" wide rosettes. In the summer, this floating plant produces sunny yellow cup-shaped flowers. Easy to grow, the plant provides a place for your finned friends to hide underneath. A tropical plant, Mosaic is hardy in Zones 11-12.

Sweet Flag

Also known as golden Japanese sweetflag (Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'), this plant is ideal for containers and water gardens alike. It's extremely flexible, as it can be grown with its toes in the water or partially submerged. The beautiful foliage is light green and highlighted with bright yellow stripes, remaining beautiful all season and sometimes through the winter. An all-around great plant that adds a bright, cheerful spot to any water feature!

Waterlilies

​Waterlilies are stunning creatures in the water garden and often the reason why many gardeners add a pond to their landscape. These beauties are characterized by amazing flowers representing all colors in the light spectrum ... red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (including the collective white), and a number of shades in between.
 
The flowers range from a mere 2" in diameter to some blooms measuring 12" or more. Their leaves typically float unless they're crowded, and are more or less round, ranging from 2" across to over 6 feet for the giant Victoria. Waterlilies are perennial and can be broken down into 2 basic groups; hardy and tropical.

Pickerel

​Available in blue, white, and pink lavender spiked flowers, Pickerel is a great choice for ponds with its shiny, green heart-shaped foliage. The blooms are long lasting and create a beautiful display when planted in masses. It grows about 24-30" in height and performs well in Zones 4-10.

Taro

​Several varieties of Taro are available for your pond and do well in full to part sun. This is a tropical plant suited for Zones 8-11, but colder climes can bring the plant inside during the winter months. This impressive, leafy water lover grows to about 48" and always makes a striking appearance in the water garden.

Water Lettuce

Water Lettuce produces fuzzy, lime-green rosettes of leaves that look like little floating heads of lettuce. Super easy to grow, you simply let this plant float on the surface of the water with its roots dangling below. They produce babies throughout the summer and can be shared with friends or moved to container water gardens. Koi love to eat water lettuce. Hardy in Zones 9-11.

One of my good friends from Aquascape Brian Helfrich. This is the back yard get a way that was built by Certified Aquascape Contractors (CAC). I am so glad to be a part of this brotherhood of pond builders.

Water Iris

Many water gardeners enjoy the elegant splendor of the aquatic iris, which is among the first plants to bloom in the spring. Aquatic irises comprise such a large and diverse group – there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of cultivated and natural hybrids. The Blue Flag Iris is a native plant that can grow up to four feet tall! A wetland lover, the Blue Flag's large flowers are breathtaking, ranging in shades from pale blue to purple.

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