Best Landscaping Plants for Around Your Pond (by zone)

The backyard pond is a centerpiece that brings tranquility and nature to your outdoor space. A beautiful pond deserves equally beautiful surroundings! The right landscaping plants not only enhance the visual appeal of your water feature but also play a vital role in maintaining a healthy pond ecosystem.

Choose the Right Plants 

The best plants for your outdoor space depends on several factors, including your zone. Here's our guide to pond and landscape plants that thrive in the different USDA hardiness zones:

Zones 8-11 (Warm Season)

• Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Towering spikes of vibrant red flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding a burst of color in summer and fall. Thrives in moist soil.
• Golden Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus 'Ogon'): This striking version of the classic sweet flag features green and gold striped foliage that brightens shady areas near the pond.
• Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta): These bold, tropical-looking plants with large, heart-shaped leaves come in various colors and sizes, adding drama and a touch of the exotic. Prefer moist soil.
• Canna Lily (Canna x generalis): Not just for the water's edge! Cannas with their vibrant blooms in shades of red, yellow, and orange add a burst of color further back from the pond in moist soil.
• Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris): This ornamental grass thrives in moist soil and creates a soft, feathery texture with its airy pink flower plumes in late summer.

Zones 5-7 (Temperate Season)

• Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica): These elegant irises with delicate blue or purple flowers add a splash of color in late spring and early summer. Prefer moist soil with good drainage.
• Daylily (Hemerocallis): A low-maintenance perennial with a seemingly endless variety of flower colors and shapes. Daylilies thrive in moist soil and provide continuous blooms throughout the summer.
• Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor): A North American native, this iris features vibrant blue-violet flowers and thrives in moist to wet soil near the pond.
• Hosta (Hosta spp.): Shade-loving hostas with their large, decorative foliage come in various colors and patterns, adding texture and visual interest to the pond surround.
• Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'): This low-growing, spreading plant with bright yellow foliage creates a vibrant carpet around the pond and tolerates occasional wet feet. 

Zones 1-4 (Cold Season)

• Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla): With its heart-shaped, blue-green foliage and delicate blue flowers in spring, Siberian bugloss adds a touch of elegance to shady areas near the pond. Tolerates moist soil.
• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): This tall ornamental grass with upright clumping habit and airy flower panicles adds vertical interest and provides winter texture. Prefers moist soil with good drainage.
• Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea): This shrub with vibrant red stems in winter adds a pop of color to the dormant landscape. Thrives in moist soil.
• Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis): This low-growing, shade-loving shrub features white flowers in spring followed by bright red berries in summer. Prefers moist, acidic soil.
• Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris): A unique early bloomer with large, cup-shaped purple flowers, the pasque flower thrives in well-drained soil but tolerates some moisture.

Beyond Zones

• Rice Paddy Grass (Oryza sativa): This ornamental grass adds a unique textural element and can be grown in containers placed at the water's edge.
• Water Bamboo (Equisetum fluviatile): This prehistoric-looking plant thrives in moist soil and adds a touch of whimsy to your pond. (Note: Water bamboo can be mildly invasive, so be sure to plant it in a container.)
• Cattail (Typha latifolia): Cattails are classic pond plants that provide shelter and food for local wildlife. They also help filter runoff. They will grow in zones 3-10.

• Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata): Pickerelweed is a popular emergent plant that produces attractive purple-blue flowers in the summer and can grow up to three feet tall. This will grow in zones 3-10.

Things to Remember

When choosing plants, consider their mature size and spacing requirements. Opt for native plants whenever possible, as they are best adapted to your local climate and provide habitat for pollinators. Double check that the plants you are adding aren't invasive in your area!

Bonus Tip: Don't forget about the underwater world! Submerged plants like hornwort and elodea oxygenate the water and provide food and shelter for fish.

With careful planning and plant selection, you can create a thriving ecosystem around your backyard pond, transforming it into a truly breathtaking oasis!