aquatics

Aquatic plants & water features

Water adds another element to a garden, not only does it look beautiful, but running water sounds beautiful, as well as providing a fabulous natural habitat for lots of beneficial wildlife.

Water plants are a must when you have a pond. As well as looking beautiful they will help the pond blend in with the rest of the garden. They shade the water, helping to control the water temperature. Their roots absorb nutrients that might otherwise foul the water and submerged oxygenating plants are the pond's very own 'air conditioners'.

Before you stock your pond or bog garden with plants, think about what purpose you need them to fulfill.

Submerged aquatics live completely under water. These are the oxygenating plants you often see realeasing streams of air bubbles in sunlight.

Deep-water aquatics have their roots in water that is 45cm (18") or more in depth. The leaves stand out above the water or float on the surface.

Marginal plants grown in moist or shallow water around the water's edge, often their roots are submerged in water.

Free-floating plants drift on the water's surface with their roots dangling in the water.

We stock a range of moisure loving plants all year, and from spring-autumn you'll find a selection of aquatic plants, also suitable for moist and boggy soils, as well as ponds and streams. Do check before making a special visit, but we generally have:

water lilies

orontium aquaticum

rheum

astilbe

ligularia

sanguisorba

zantedeschia (white arum lily)

primula denticulata

moisure loving iris

caltha palustris (marsh marigold)

ranunculus

rodgersia

gunera - giant and miniature plants

lysichitum (skunk cabbage) - yellow and white varieties

lobelia, purple leaved

hosta

sedges & rushes, including bulrush, mares tail and zebra rush

acers, moisture loving

You'll also find a small range of bird baths and other ornamental water features, together with aquatic compost, aquatic plant baskets, barley straw packs and other treatments to keep your pond clear.

Visit a water garden for more inspiration

Some well and less well known water gardens to visit, near and far, for more ideas. Even the most grand gardens can inspire something more humble for the home garden. Some have fabulous bog gardens which can be recreated on a much smaller scale too. Or why not look at a river or stream for a simpler, more naturalised look? You can even create a small water feature in a half oak barrel or container!

Devon & Cornwall

Lukesland Garden, Ivybridge

Coleton Fishacre, Kingswear

Marwood Gardens, Barnstaple

RHS Rosemoor, Barnstaple

Heligan Garden, Mevagissy, Cornwall

England

Stourhead, National Trust

Heale Garden, Salisbury

Upton House, Banbury, National Trust

Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Gardens, Dorset

Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden, Norwich