Best Plants for Ponds in the Sun

If your pond is on the sunny side of your garden, you’ll need plants that thrive in full sunlight and can take the heat. Water Lilies and other floating aquatic plants are at their best in warm, sunny conditions, but you’ll also need to choose sun-loving oxygenators (to keep the water clear), submerged plants (for the wildlife!) and a good selection of flowering and foliage plants for the edges of your pond. We’ve taken the hard work out of choosing with this collection of the best varieties for every area of the pond - so all you need to do is plant them up and dust off the deckchairs!

Water irises (20)Water lilies (44)Ferns (37)Pond grasses (16)Oxygenating pond plants (13)
  • Hornwort Plant | Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Oxygenating Hornwort Plant | Ceratophyllum demersum

    Keeps your pond nice and healthy

    • Bottlebrush-like leaves on vivid green stems
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grows well in full sun, partial or full shade
    • Provides excellent algal control

    2 options available

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  • Water Hawthorn | Aponogeton distachyos Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Water Hawthorn | Aponogeton distachyos

    The most sumptuous scent

    • Floating white, vanilla-scented blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from March to May (and in autumn)

    2 options available

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  • Fibre Optic Plant | Isolepsis Cerna| Oxygenating Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Oxygenating Fibre Optic Plant | Isolepis cernua

    A plant to improve your Wi-Fi?!

    • Spiky grass that looks like fibre optic cable
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Happy in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from June to August

    3 options available

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  • White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Alba' Pond Plants
    From £20
    £25 From £20

    White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Alba'

    Britain's only native water lily

    • Gorgeous stellate, white blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Vigorous grower and subtly-scented blooms

    4 options available

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  • Bog Pimpernel | Anagallis tenella Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Bog Pimpernel | Anagallis tenella

    Low-growing loveliness

    • An evergreen carpet of tiny pink blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Long flowering period from June to September

    2 options available

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  • Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Purple Loosestrife | Lythrum salicaria

    Transforms any dull space!

    • Towering flower spikes in rich purple hues
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grows best in full sun
    • Flowers from July to September

    3 options available

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  • Pond Plants for Wildlife Collection Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Pond Plants for Wildlife Collection

    Attract wildlife to your pond

    • A wonderful variety of flowers and foliage
    • Zones 1 to 3 - Pondside to deep water
    • Grows in full sun and part shade
    • A range of hardy, easy-care perennials

    4 options available

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  • Water Lily Darwin | Nymphaea hollandia Pond Plants
    From £20
    £25 From £20

    Long Flowering Water Lily | Nymphaea hollandia 'Darwin'

    Amongst the finest water lilies

    • The softest pink double blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Likes a spot in full sunshine
    • Stunning flowers suited to larger ponds

    5 options available

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  • Premium Fern Collection Pond Plants
    £45
    £45

    Premium Fern Collection

    The perfect mix of stylish ferns

    • An array of wonderfully-textured foliage
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Grows in all light (part shade is best)
    • Ideal for damp ground and shady borders

    1 option available

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  • Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Yellow Flag Iris | Iris pseudacorus

    The UK-native flag iris

    • Bursts of zesty yellow brighten any pond
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    4 options available

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  • White Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea Pygmaea alba Pond Plants
    From £22
    £30 From £22

    White Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Alba'

    Tiny, snowdrop water lilies

    • Miniature, cup-shaped blooms in silk white
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Perfect for a south-facing, sunny spot
    • Ideal for shallow container ponds

    4 options available

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  • Colourful Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Colourful Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice

    Bring the best colours pondside

    • A variety of hues, forms and sizes
    • Zone 2 Marginals: Ideal for shallow water and pond shelves.
    • Does best in full sun or partial shade
    • Provides year-round colour

    3 options available

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  • Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Lesser Bulrush | Typha angustifolia

    Classic UK-native bulrush

    • A traditional bulrush, complete with cattails
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • Helps attract wildlife to your pond

    4 options available

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  • Arum Lily 'Crowborough' Pond Plants
    From £25
    £30 From £25

    Arum Lily 'Crowborough'

    The most elegant pond plant

    • Magnificent satin-white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun to partial shade
    • Huge flowers from May to August

    3 options available

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  • 5 Water Lettuce | Pistia stratiotes | 9cm Pots Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Water Lettuce | Pistia stratiotes

    Float yer' greens...

    • Floating rosettes of lush green foliage
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • No planting needed, just place on the water!

    2 options available

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

    Rough Horsetail | Equisetum hyemale

    The best vertical accent plant?

    • Evergreen, bamboo-like stems with black bands
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Evergreen for interest all year round

    5 options available

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  • Miniature Bulrush | Typha minima Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

    Miniature Bulrush | Typha minima

    Perfect for smaller ponds

    • Slender leaves, small 'cattail' seedheads
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in a position with full sun
    • Flowers from July to August

    2 options available

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  • Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Creeping Jenny | Lysimachia nummularia

    Bright, cheery and compact

    • Adorable little buttercup flowers
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Summer flowering from June to August

    2 options available

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  • Orange Peel Plant | Houttuynia cordata 'Plena' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Orange Peel Plant | Houttuynia cordata 'Plena'

    Incredibly fragrant leaves

    • Citrus-scented foliage, silk white blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Plant in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers from May to September

    6 options available

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  • Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Attraction' Pond Plants
    From £20
    £25 From £20

    Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Attraction'

    A symphony in rose pink

    • Stunning pink blooms flecked with white
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • The perfect choice for sunny ponds
    • Showy and long-flowering (June to September)

    5 options available

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  • Large White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Virginalis' Pond Plants
    From £20
    £25 From £20

    Large White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Virginalis'

    Always highly sought-after

    • Elegant semi-double, white blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in full sun
    • Hardy, reliable and a long flowering season

    5 options available

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  • Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock' Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Iris louisiana 'Black Gamecock'

    There are few plants as elegant

    • Huge iris flowers in deepest purple
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from May to July

    5 options available

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  • Best Small Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice Pond Plants
    £60
    £60

    Best Small Pond Plants Collection | Grower's Choice

    Everything you need to fill your small pond

    • Six pond plants chosen by our expert grower
    • The best variety of colours, heights and types
    • Hardy, easy care perennials
    • Attracts beneficial wildlife to your pond

    1 option available

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  • Corkscrew Rush | Juncus effusus spiralis Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Corkscrew Rush | Juncus effusus spiralis

    Superb spiralling rush stems

    • Incredible corkscrew, twisting stems
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Grow in full sun or partial shade
    • Attracts wildlife (including dragonflies!)

    4 options available

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  • Cuckoo Flower | Cardamine pratensis Pond Plants
    From £23
    From £23

    Cuckoo Flower | Cardamine pratensis

    Ferny foliage dotted with pink

    • Foliage rosettes dotted with pink blooms
    • Zone 1 - Pondside
    • Partial shade to full shade
    • Flowers from April to June

    1 option available

    Trustpilot
  • Pickerel Weed | Pontederia cordata Pond Plants
    From £15
    From £15

    Pickerel Weed | Pontederia cordata

    Lilac-blue flower spikes

    • Superb thimble-like, blue blooms
    • Zone 2 - Pond edges
    • Loves a sunny spot
    • Free flowering from July to September

    2 options available

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  • Variable Water Lily | Nymphaea Aurora Pond Plants
    From £22
    £30 From £22

    Variable Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Aurora'

    Glorious colour changes

    • Compact flowers, perfect for smaller ponds
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grows best in full sun
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    4 options available

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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!

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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