Marginal and emergent plants are essential parts of any healthy pond garden. These plants are partially submerged in water, usually about 6 inches above their crown. Since a portion of this plant is underwater at all times, these are beneficial when it comes to aeration and filtration. Some plants will prefer still waters, while others do best in moving water like in a stream or around the edges of a waterfall.
- Marsh Marigold: This is a lovely, flowering plant that’s one of the very first to bloom in spring and fall. These plants do best in cooler temperatures and may struggle during hot or very dry summers. Some shade in the heat of summer may help these plants do best. Since these plants come alive so early, you can utilize their timing to make sure your pond is being filtered from the very start of spring. These plants can grow up to 12-18 inches tall. They can grow in shallow water up to 5 inches deep. This is a low maintenance plant and is often resistant to many kinds of diseases and pests.
- Chameleon plants: These are often chosen for the vibrant colors found in their leaves. Depending on how much sun it's exposed to, leaves can turn red, pink, green, yellow, or even cream colored. This is a very quick-growing and aggressive plant and may be harder to control outside of a pond environment. Cut back long stems and growths in order to promote a bushy, mounding appearance and prevent further spread. Chameleon plants often grow to be 9-18 inches in height and spread 1 or 2 feet in width.
- Golden creeping jenny: This is often chosen for its trailing habit and bright yellow foliage. Creeping jenny will look great spilling over islands or waterfall edges and does well both in or out of the sun. Creeping jenny can be invasive across much of the US, so be careful in your planting and maintenance. Creeping jenny stays low to the ground, usually only reaching about 3 to 6 inches in height. It can spread as wide as 18 inches across.
- Pickerel reed: Also known as pickerel rush or pickerel weed can grow to above 4 ft tall. This plant does best in shallow, still water, and is an attractive choice for many kinds of wandering wildlife. These are an excellent choice for adding color to your garden, as bright purple flowers bloom in the late summer, attracting pollinators of all kinds. Pickerel weed does best in full-sun and can thrive in up to a foot of standing water.
