Where do I start?
First, evaluate your site. How much room do you have? How deep is your water? How much sunlight will the plants receive? Are you looking for plants that will bloom or just provide foliage? The plants you choose will depend on all these factors.

I love water lilies · what do they need?
To be successful with water lilies, you will need at least 12 inches of water above the crown of the plant and lots of sun. Lilies don't seem to do well with quickly moving or splashing water either. Otherwise, they really are easy. Their root system is rather shallow, so they don't need to be in a deep pot.

How much sun is needed for water plants?
To thrive, they need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Like many other plants, water plants have the ability to adapt and survive under less than ideal conditions, but they won't be as lush and full and won't bloom as well.

Are there different types of water plants?
Plants that are suitable for water and bog gardens fall into several groupings based on the depth of water at which they thrive. They will either be free floating, submerged, marginal (shallow), deep water or bog plants.

Don't all water plants have to actually be in the water?
Bog plants enjoy the extra moisture of a wet area, but prefer not to be in the water. There are several perennials and shrubs that thrive in that same setting.

What do they mean by floaters?
There are several plants that simply float around the surface and don't need soil. The easiest floaters to grow are water hyacinths and water lettuce. Some floaters do so well they can become a problem, so be careful what you introduce to your water. Floaters are also great at filtering your water and providing shade for your fish.

Why would I want plants that are submerged?
There is some confusion about the role of submerged plants. While they are usually called oxygenators, they actually use as much oxygen as they produce. Their real value is that they do a great job at filtering out excess nutrients in the water that could cause algae problems. Submerged plants (and floaters) will also provide a place for the fish to spawn and young fish to hide.

So many plants are called marginals. What does that mean?
Marginal means plants that grow on the edges, both in and out of the water. While individual varieties may say they do best at a specific depth, you can generally say they all like their feet to be wet and their heads to be dry. They provide some of the best upright accents, striking foliage and bloomers. Most bog and marginal plants can be planted in either setting.

Are there grassy plants that will do well near my water garden?
Common rush and cordgrass will tolerate standing water and quite a few other grasses will tolerate wet or poorly drained soil. For soggy soil, you can use almost all types of miscanthus, switchgrass and ribbongrass.

Can I create a boggy area?
Boggy areas are easily created where the water overflows a pool. If the underlying soil is too well drained, dig it out and line the area with a heavy plastic. Before back filling it with a 50/50 peat/soil mixture, pierce the plastic in a few places so that the excess water can drain.

Do I need to keep the water plants in containers?
Yes, unless you are fortunate enough to have a water feature with a natural soil bottom. There are a variety of containers that work with water plants, ranging from plastic nursery pots to clay to special baskets made for this specific purpose. Base your choice of container on size and how it looks, since you will be able to see it during part of the season.

What kind of soil should I use for my water plants?
Plain garden soil works well. Cover the surface of the soil with at least an inch of fine gravel or coarse sand to keep the soil from sifting into the water. Avoid rich organic soils. Even though your plants would like them, good soils give off too many nutrients, leading to cloudy water. Do not use potting soils or soil-less mixes. They won't hold together well and will sift out and get into your water.

Will my water plants need fertilizing?
They make a fertilizer tablet especially for water plants. Once a season is usually enough for most plants; two or three times for water lilies. The tablets need to be pushed into the soil of each plant.

Are there some plants that are hardier than others?
All the water lilies we sell are hardy as are the majority of our other water plants. There are a few that are tropical, such as water hyacinths, water lettuce and papyrus. A few tropicals are a wonderful added dimension to your water feature.

How do I go about wintering hardy plants?
If your water is at least 18 inches deep, simply cut off all the foliage and set the plants, pot and all, in the deepest spot. If the water is less than 18 inches deep, either winter them in a basement or cold cellar or bury them in the soil and mulch them heavily till spring.

Is there a way to winter my tropical plants?
Papyrus is easy to winter in a sunny window as a indoor plant. It doesn't need to be kept soggy, just damp. Others, like water hyacinths and water lettuce, need to stay in water and have lots of light and warmth. Since this is very difficult indoors in Minnesota in winter, most people just let them go and replace them in the spring.

Bog Lovers
Nordic Holly
Gooseneck Loosestrife
Jack in the Pulpit
Turtlehead
Cardinal Flower
Marsh Marigold
Arrowhead
Astilbe and Goatsbeard
Blue Flag
Bog Rosemary
Elderberry
Ligularia
Cattails and Horsetail

Deep Water Plants
Water Lilies
Lotus

Submerged Plants
Anacharis
Cabomba
Vallisneria
Hornwort

Floating Plants
Water Lettuce
Water Hyacinths

Marginal Plants
Arrowhead
Cattails and Horsetail
Frogbit
Bog Lily
Bog Bean
Lizards Tail
Papyrus
Parrot's Feather
Pickerel and Zebra Rush
Sweet Flag
Water Canna
Water Clover
Water Hawthorne

© Bachman's 1997
Author: Margaret Purcell, Senior Horticulturist