Water Garden Plants

 

What sets Fins & Flowers plants apart from other suppliers?

*  We stock over 50 plant varieties throughout the entire water garden season.

*  We stand behind what we sell.  If you aren't happy with your purchase, exchange it for an item of equal value.

*  Want a new look for your water garden this season?  No problem.  Bring in your Fins & Flowers plants in their original pot with the original tag and you can trade for a plant of equal value.

*  All plants are ready for immediate placement in your pond...no additional work necessary.

*  Free winter storage for any potted plant bought from Fins & Flowers.  Now you can buy tropical lilies and marginals without having to replace them every spring.

*  We only sell plants that have proven to grow well in our own ponds.  Our selection reflects plants that we know will perform well in your water garden.

*  All of our plant stock is either grown in house or comes from reputable water garden plant suppliers to ensure you get the best quality plants possible.

The term 'water garden plant' describes a wide array of plants suitable for your water garden.   Before choosing plants, make sure you are aware of the proper conditions your plants need (sun exposure, water depth, temperature tolerance).  While many water garden plants are able to survive our winters (hardy), there are others that need a warmer winter environment (tropical).  Besides hardieness, you must also consider the function of the plants you wish to add to your water garden.  Water garden plants can be divided into categories based on where they grow in the pond.  Click on the links below for a more detailed description of each type of plant category.  

 

 

Floating plants     Oxygenating plants     Marginal plants     Water Lilies      Lotus

All photos below are of actual plants grown and sold by Fins & Flowers Water Gardens.

Additional photos will be added as they become available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating Plants

Floating plants grow exactly as their name implies.  These plants thrive on the water surface while extending roots down into the pond below.  Floating plants serve two main functions in your water garden.  First, they offer cover for fish and provide shade, helping moderate water temperatures.  Second, their root systems act as a natural filtration syatem to purify and clarify the water. 

 

Water Hyacinth     Water Lettuce     Parrots Feather
Water Hyacinth                                   Water Lettuce                                    Parrots Feather

 

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Oxygenating Plants

Oxygenators are frequently overlooked by most water gardeners.  These plants, sometimes called submerged plants, are typically found growing on the pond bottom.  While they may be out of sight, the perform a vital task in keeping the water clear.  Basically these plants act as "sponges" soaking up sediment and debris while also converting nutrients in the water into energy that then gets released as oxygen back into the pond. 

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Marginal Plants

Marginal plants, referred to as marginals, bog plants or emergent plants, comprise the largest group of water garden plants.  These plants flourish in conditions ranging from damp shady areas to sunny locations with up to a foot of water over their crown.  The vast majority of marginals are prolific spreaders and can take over a water garden if not kept in check.  Some varieties are known for being very effective at water filtration while others are utilized primarily for aesthetic reasons.  Besides adding color and texture to your water garden, marginals also create habitat for wildlife like frogs, toads, birds, dragonflies and butterflies to name just a few examples. 

 

Chameleon Plant     Thalia Dealbata     Water Forget Me Not
Chameleon Plant                                         Thalia                                       Water Forget Me Not

 

Variegated Arrowhead     Ra Canna     Variegated Taro
Variegated Arrowhead                                  Canna                                          Variegated Taro

 

Calla Lily     Orange Punch Canna     Banana Tree

Calla Lily                                              Canna                                              Banana Tree

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Water Lilies

Without a doubt, water lilies are the best known water garden plant.  Through careful hybridization, hundreds of varieties are available with a lily existing for most any water garden regardless of size or setting.  Like floating plants, water lilies provide shade and temperature moderation by offering surface coverage with their pads.  Unlike the previous categories of plants, water lilies contribute very little in the way of filtration and water purification.  However, the beauty they add to any water garden more than justifies their inclusion.

 

Sunny Pink     Barbara Dobbins     Joey Tomocik

Sunny Pink                                         Barbara Dobbins                                      Joey Tomocik

 

Laydekeri Fulgens     Virginalis     Emily Hutchings

Laydekeri Fulgens                                   Virginalis                                       Emily Hutchings

 

Dauben     Attraction     Darwin

Dauben                                           Attraction                                                Darwin

 

Leopardess     Aurora     Arc En Ciel

Leopardess                                           Aurora                                             Arc En Ciel

 

Rembrandt     Denver     Sioux

Rembrandt                                          Denver                                                Sioux

 

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Lotus

The lotus is one of the most majestic plants to grow in a water garden.  Known for its large dinner plate sized leaves that repel water and showy, delicate flowers, the lotus acts as a focal point in any water garden.  While unfairly gaining a reputation as a difficult plant to care for, the lotus serves to add grace and elegance to any pond.  Not only can it be used in a water garden, it can also be grown in a container garden or pot on its own.  As with water lilies, lotus primarily fulfill a purpose of aesthetics as opposed to filtration.

 

Lotus     Lotus     Red Lotus

Lotus                                                  Lotus                                               Lotus 

 

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Potted plants or bareroot?

A very important factor that sets Fins & Flowers apart from the competition is how we grow and sell our marginals and water lilies. Instead of bare root stock or tiny 4" plugs, our plants are grown in 1/2 gallon or larger pots. These larger pots allow room for the plant to fill out and mature while also giving the roots plenty of space to spread.

While growing plants in larger pots requires more work on our part, the results are worth it for our customers. We are aware many competitors build "rock & gravel" ponds and then install bareroot plant stock into the gravel substrate. One problem with this approach is it allows plants such as lilies or cattails to spread unchecked throughout the pond. This complicates maintenance tasks such as pruning and dividing plants because the entire plant is rooted into the substrate and can't be easily reached or removed.

Another beneficial reason to grow plants in large pots centers around their ability to "fix" or hold nutrients. For instance, most water gardeners fertilize their plants to enhance both foliage growth and bloom frequency. A plant growing in soil will "fix" more of this fertilizer than plants grown in gravel. The soil acts as a "binder" to capture and hold the fertilizer until the roots are ready for it. In a gravel substrate, the fertilizer is free to move throughout the pond, making it available to other organisms, such as the single cell algae that cause green water.