Pond plants actually do much better in winter than they do in summer. They’re not used to indoor living, and most of them will just die off if you bring them inside in winter.
Flowering pond plants are the exception. The fact is, these guys are just too delicate to survive a winter outdoors, so they’ll need to come inside if you want them to keep on flowering.
“Wait, what?” you say? “Pond plants actually flower?”
Yep, they do. In fact, that’s what draws most people to them in the first place. They’re just so beautiful, especially when they’re in full bloom.
Here’s a list of pond plants that I’ve carefully prepared for you. These are the cream of the crop — the ones that’ll make your pond the envy of all your friends.
Just make sure that you leave them outside in winter, with the exception of the flowering ones. They’ll all do better in the cold than they will indoors.
1. Water Lilies
Mmm, water lilies. Just imagine how beautiful your pond would look with a carpet of lily pads and stunning flowers.
These ones are so hardy they’re even fine with being frozen over. Don’t worry, they’ll thaw out in spring and come back stronger than ever.
2. Lotus
Lotus flowers are just incredible. They’re like the kings of the pond plant world. Bigger, bolder, and more beautiful than their water lily counterparts.
Sadly, though, lotus flowers are just too delicate to survive a winter outdoors, so you’ll need to bring them inside if you want them to keep on flowering.
3. Water Hyacinth
Water hyacinth are a floating pond plant, so you don’t need to worry about planting them. They’re great for shading the water, and they flower too.
The thing is, they’re so delicate that they can’t survive a winter outside. That’s why you should consider them as an annual pond plant, or else just bring them inside in winter.
4. Water Lettuce
Another floating pond plant, water lettuce is just as delicate as water hyacinth, and will need to come inside in winter if you want it to keep on thriving.
5. Parrot Feather
Parrot feather is a really useful pond plant. It’s a submerged oxygenator, so it’ll keep your pond clear by out-competing with algae, and it’s hardy too.
Parrot feather is so hardy, in fact, that it’ll over-winter just fine anywhere in the US. It’s a good one to have if you’re not sure about the hardiness of other pond plants, or if you’re in a colder area.
6. Water Clover
Water clover is a submerged oxygenator, just like parrot feather, and it’s hardy too. It’s a good one to have if you’re in a colder area, or if you’re unsure about the hardiness of other pond plants.
7. Horsetail
Horsetail is a very hardy marginal pond plant that’ll do well anywhere in the US, although it does better if you’re in an area with mild winters.
8. Water Hawthorn
Water hawthorn is another marginal pond plant, but it’s somewhat less hardy than horsetail.
It’ll do fine in mild winters, but it’ll need to be brought inside if you’re in an area with cold winters. If you’re not sure about the hardiness of water hawthorn in your area, then be on the safe side and bring it inside.
9. Pickerel Weed
Pickerel weed is a marginal pond plant that does pretty well in cold winters.
If you’re in an area with mild winters, then it’ll do just fine, but if you’re in an area with cold winters, then it’ll need to be brought inside.
10. Cardinal Flower
Cardinal flower is a marginal pond plant that does pretty well in cold winters, although it’s somewhat less hardy than pickerel weed.
If you’re in an area with mild winters, then it’ll do just fine, but if you’re in an area with cold winters, then it’ll need to be brought inside.
11. Water Iris
Water iris is a great pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
12. Water Canna
Water canna is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
13. Marsh Marigold
Marsh marigold is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
14. Arrowhead
Arrowhead is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
15. Sweet Flag
Sweet flag is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
16. Creeping Jenny
Creeping jenny is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
17. Lizard’s Tail
Lizard’s tail is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
18. Japanese Iris
Japanese iris is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
19. Water Snowflake
Water snowflake is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
20. Blue Flag Iris
Blue flag iris is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
21. Sweet Flag
Sweet flag is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
22. Water Arum
Water arum is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
23. Water Arum
Water arum is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
24. Water Cress
Water cress is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
25. Blue Eyed Grass
Blue eyed grass is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
26. Water Celery
Water celery is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
27. Water Plantain
Water plantain is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
28. Corkscrew Rush
Corkscrew rush is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
29. Dwarf Horsetail
Dwarf horsetail is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
30. Blue Pickerel Rush
Blue pickerel rush is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
31. Variegated Sweet Flag
Variegated sweet flag is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
32. Egyptian Papyrus
Egyptian papyrus is a marginal pond plant that’ll really add some color to your pond. It’s hardy too.
