UK Native Pond Plants

Native pond plants are those which grow naturally in the ponds, streams and rivers of the UK. They’re ideally suited to the British weather and perfect for attracting bees, butterflies, frogs and more. With beloved native marginal plants like Bulrushes and Flag Irises, submerged or floating plants and even Waterlilies, you can bring the classic look of the English countryside to your pond and benefit our environment at the same time. Give your pond the natural look with our native collection - the wildlife will love it as much as you do! Need help picking?
Pond plants (157) Water irises (20)Water lilies (43)Ferns (34)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • Hornwort Plant | Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Oxygenating Hornwort Plant | Ceratophyllum demersum

    Keeps your pond healthy

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grows well in full sun, partial or full shade
    • Excellent algae control
    • A free floating native plant for oxygenating ponds and lakes

    2 options available

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  • Best Oxygenating Pond Plants | Growers' Choice Pond Plants
    From £13
    From £13

    Best Oxygenating Pond Plants | Growers' Choice

    Keep your pond nice and clear!

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Full sun to full shade
    • Gorgeous foliage in a range of green hues
    • Plants that keep your pond from stagnating

    2 options available

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  • Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Water Forget-Me-Not | Myosotis scorpioides

    Clusters of blue with sunny yellow centres

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from May to September
    • A prolifically flowering native plant

    3 options available

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  • White Water Lily | Nymphaea Alba Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Alba'

    The only native British Water Lily

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

    5 options available

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  • Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria

    Eyecatching magenta blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September
    • Spectacular tall pink blooms

    6 options available

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  • Marsh Marigold Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Marsh Marigold

    Heart shaped leaves, loved by bees

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers during March and April
    • A native plant which is highly attractive to pollinators

    6 options available

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  • Iris pseudacorus Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus

    The UK native flag iris

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July
    • Grow in shallow water, beds or borders

    4 options available

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  • Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia

    Classic UK native bulrush

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • A native plant to attract wildlife to your pond
    • Ideal for large ponds or growing in containers

    4 options available

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  • 5 Frogbit Plants | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Frogbit Plants

    Elegant floating flowers

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grow in full sun
    • Flowers in summer from June to July
    • Attractive perennial ideal for smaller ponds

    2 options available

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  • Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale

    THE vertical accent plant

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Evergreen for interest all year round
    • Extrememely hardy native plant to give height to pond edges

    6 options available

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  • Water Mint | Mentha aquatica Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Water Mint | Mentha aquatica

    Aromatic and colourful

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July right through to October
    • Aromatic and attractive native plant

    2 options available

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  • Dwarf Hairgrass| Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Dwarf Hairgrass | Eleocharis acicularis

    The brightest, greenest grass!

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Suitable for growing in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from August to September
    • Keeps your pond healthy and clean

    5 options available

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  • Cuckoo Flower Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Cuckoo Flower | Cardamine pratensis

    Ferny foliage dotted with pink

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Partial shade to full shade
    • Flowers from April to June
    • A native plant ideal for a wildlife garden

    3 options available

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  • Lesser Spearwort | Ranunculus flammula Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Lesser Spearwort | Ranunculus flammula

    Long-flowering, floating buttercups

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowering from June to September
    • Buttercup like flowers to attract bees and butterflies

    3 options available

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  • 3 Lady Fern | Athyrium filix femina | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    £23
    £23

    Lady Fern | Athyrium filix femina

    An elegant deciduous fern

    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Delicate lacy foliage
    • The brightest green
    • British native fern, perfect cover for wildlife

    1 option available

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  • Common Bulrush | Typha latifolia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Common Bulrush | Typha latifolia

    A haven for wildlife

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • Tall, fast growing and graceful bulrush
    • The best choice for large lakes

    4 options available

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  • Soft Rush | Juncus effusus Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Soft Rush | Juncus effusus

    Fans of tall emerald green

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Best grown in full sun
    • Arching fans of emerald green stems
    • Makes an ideal perch for dragonflies

    6 options available

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  • Slender-tufted sedge Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Slender-tufted sedge

    The ideal perch for dragonflies

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August
    • A native plant ideally suited to ponds and streams

    5 options available

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  • Ragged Robin Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Ragged Robin

    Tall stems of rose-pink pompoms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August
    • A native plant attractive to bees and butterflies

    5 options available

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  • Water Plantain | Alisma plantago aquaticum Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Water Plantain | Alisma plantago-aquaticum

    Tall stems of light, fragrant flowers

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to August
    • Brings height and interest to pond margins and water gardens

    1 option available

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  • Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Pennyroyal | Mentha pulegium

    Mint-scented foliage with lilac blooms

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows well in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from July to October
    • A compact Mint with lilac flowers

    1 option available

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  • Cyperus Sedge | Carex Pseudocyperus Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Cyperus Sedge | Carex pseudocyperus

    Bright tufts of lime green to attract the dragonflies

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Plant in sun or partial shade in the pond margins
    • Flowers from May to August
    • A UK native plant, beneficial to wildlife

    3 options available

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  • Geum rivale | Water Avens Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Geum rivale | Water Avens

    Long-flowering rosewood bells

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grows best in full sun or partial shade
    • Long flowering from May to September
    • A native plant to attract bees and butterflies

    4 options available

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  • Water Pimpernel | Veronica beccabunga Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Water Pimpernel | Veronica beccabunga

    Native succulent with clusters of blue

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in a sunny spot
    • Long flowering from May to September
    • A highly flowered native succulent

    1 option available

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  • Pendulous sedge Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Pendulous sedge

    A graceful, native sedge

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July to August
    • A native plant perfect for ponds and wildlife gardens

    6 options available

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  • Bloodwort Wood Dock | Rumex sanguineus Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Wood Dock | Rumex sanguineus

    Striking red-veined foliage

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Best in full sun but also grows in partial shade
    • Flowering from June to August
    • A native marginal plant with striking red veined foliage

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Sweet Galingale | Cyperus longus Pond Plants
    From £35
    From £35

    Sweet Galingale | Cyperus longus

    Easy to grow with a lot of impact!

    • Zone 2 - Pond Edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from July August
    • A wildlife friendly native plant for large ponds and lakes

    3 options available

    Trustpilot

Enfield

Meet Caroline

A deep dive into sustainable gardening

Nestled amongst wildlife meadows and resident ducks, Caroline’s award winning pond plant nursery in Enfield has been making a splash since 1965, when they invented the (recycled, obvs) aquatic basket. Sixty years and multiple RHS gold medals later, they’re still surprising us with new varieties every year!

Need help picking?

Why choose native pond plants?

Why choose native pond plants?

There are many reasons to choose native pond plants, including both wildlife appeal and aesthetic impact. Native pond plants are indigenous to the UK, and have shared an evolutionary pathway with the other wildlife found in British ponds. Aquatic environments are finely-tuned, and as such, it doesn’t take much to nudge this homeostasis out of balance. By using native pond plants, you’re more likely to keep that settled equilibrium between flora and fauna. It’s like baby bear’s po(nd)rridge – just right.

What are the best native pond plants?

What are the best native pond plants?

Determining ‘the best’ of anything is always a bit subjective, but there are definitely native pond plants we’re particularly partial to here at Roots, including marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) and water crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) on the flowering side of things, and water soldier (Stratiotes aloides), hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) and water violet (Hottonia palustris) on the foliage end. Honourable mentions also go to water avens (Geum rivale), ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

Caring for native pond plants

Caring for native pond plants

Looking after native pond plants is much the same as any other pond plants. An application of aquatic fertiliser during spring can help your plants flourish and remain healthy. Plant your native pond plants in aquatic baskets to help keep them nice and secure (bog/marsh plants can be planted straight into the ground). Prune back marginals (like yellow flag iris – Iris pseudacorus) in winter, cutting back to healthy, green foliage. Thin out any plants that have become overcrowded, as they may take over your pond if you’re not careful.

Happy plants make happy customers

Trustpilot
Ornamental Colour Collection Pond Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Plants arrived in great condition and very promptly. Well established - much better than the ones I got at my local garden centre.

Monica Spence

| 24 May
Star Jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides Climbing Plants
five star rating on Trustpilot

Yet again this company delivered good healthy plants, exactly as shown in photos, well packaged and within delivery time quoted. Recommend!

Jacqueline Burgess

| 2 Jun
five star rating on Trustpilot

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane

| 23 Oct
E 'Black Hamburgh' Indoor Grape Vine Soft Fruit
five star rating on Trustpilot

The plant arrived looking vigorously healthy, which brings a smile to your face, extremely well protected in its packaging.

Martyn Hill

| 5 Jul
E 'Braeburn Hillwell' Apple Tree Fruit Trees
five star rating on Trustpilot

As a non-gardener, I found my whole experience brilliant. Great information & advice available on the website, great range of products & prices are brilliant.

John-Paul

| 22 May
five star rating on Trustpilot

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden centre.

Gavin Wilcock

| 8 Nov

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