Favorite Floating Aquatic Plants for Your Pond
Floating pond plants stay on the surface of the pond. While they may look decorative, they also help to provide shade and protection for your pond fish and other inhabitants. Floating plants can help prevent algae from getting the sunlight it needs and absorb excess nutrients from the water.
Many floating plants are tropical and do best in warm weather. Some floating plants, like Duckweed, are invasive and can quickly take over your pond and make their way into local waterways. They aren't recommended for beginners.
Popular Floating Plants
Water lilies
These are a classic floating plant that makes your pond look like it popped out of a storybook.
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Tropical zones 9-11
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Hardy zones 4-11
Lotus
Another pond icon, lotuses are full of symbolism. They are naturally water repellent, which keeps them looking bright and clean! They are more delicate than water lilies and do better in warmer climates.
- Zones 4-11
Fairy Moss/Mosquito Fern
Fairy moss is a floating fern that loves ledges and gentle flows. It's a favorite snack for goldfish and koi, and works well in container and mini-gardens too!
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Hardy zones 7-11
Water hyacinth
These plants are great for absorbing nutrients that can make your pond murky or fuel an algae bloom.
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Zones 8-10
Water lettuce
Water lettuce provides shelter to pond life while competing with algae for nutrients in the water. Considered invasive, so plant with caution!
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Zones 9-11
Water poppy
Water poppies provide shade and a place for pond life to breed in the water while absorbing nutrients.
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Zones 9-11
Floating plants can quickly take over your pond, interfering with flow and oxygenation. Ideally, you want at least one-third of the surface open. Regularly trim your floating plants and consider planting in an aquatic plant basket to contain roots and growth. Dispose of plant trimmings properly to avoid disrupting local ecosystems.
TIP: Tap water is no friend to plants! Chlorine Remover Plus Conditioner makes tap water safe for plants, fish, and other pond life.
Popular Submerged Plants
While floating plants help absorb excess nutrients and decorate the pond's surface, they don't oxygenate the water much. Consider pairing them with submerged plants, which, while less showy, are superstars at oxygenating the water. Submerged plants root and grow completely underwater in your pond. Adding submerged plants can help maintain water quality while their root systems also provide snacks for your pond life and places to hide from predators.
Anacharis
Anacharis absorbs contaminants in the water and adds oxygen.
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Zones 5-10
Hornwort
This fast-growing plant helps eliminate algae and provides a place for small fish and other critters to hide.
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Zones 5-10
Elodea
Small aquatic animals and spawning fish love elodea, as it has many places to protect fry. Geese, ducks, and swans also enjoy snacking on this plant.
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Zones 4-10
Eelgrass
Eelgrass provides food and a habitat for many aquatic creatures while also filtering pollutants and adding oxygen.
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Zones 4-10
When deciding what type of aquatic plants to add to your pond, you want to think about the benefits of each kind of plant. Floating plants provide shade and prevent algae from absorbing the sunlight it needs to bloom. These plants also help protect your fish and other pond inhabitants from predators. Floating plants are very decorative and are one of the more visible plants to add to your pond. You can combine floating plants with submerged plants that are better at filtering and oxygenating the water but are less noticeable.
