Bog & Pond Plants

Best Marginal Bog Plants For Tub Water Gardens

Shallow water and marginal and bog plants can add a lot of diversity to a small pond or tub water garden. Marginal pond plants with varying leaf-shapes, plant forms, flower colors and styles help. They also add height and vertical interest to the otherwise horizontal presentation of lilypads and blossoms across the water surface.

Native And Hybrid Water Iris Rhizomes
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Flowering Marginal Plants

Bog plants that flower frequently are an optimal choice for continued interest throughout the season. Arrowheads (both the triangular Saggitaria Latifolia and the spear-shaped Saggitaria Lancifolia species) are notable for new bracts of white blossoms all season long. Yellow Water Poppies #Ad are a great flowering pond plant for tub gardens.

Some flowering marginals have more limited blooming season such as the Purple Pickeral Rush plant (Pontederia Cordata) that usually only blooms by midsummer. Both scarlet and blue Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia Cardinalis and Siphilitica) are a great choice for bright spikes of color extremely attractive to hummingbirds and bees.

Native And Hybrid Water Iris Plants
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Water Iris A Popular Choice

A range of water iris species are suited for shallow water or at a pond's edge. Louisana Water Iris are most popular and have many colors of named cultivars. A purple native north American species, Iris Versicolor (also called Blue Flag) is widely available and a reliable choice, as is the much taller European Yellow Iris Pseudocorus. Japanese Ensata irises have the largest blossoms. With slightly different bloom periods, a combination of these plants can extend the iris peak color season within a single pot.

Floating Plants

Floating plants on the water's surface are very beneficial to a balanced water garden. The roots of plants like Purple Water Hyacinths, Water Lettuce, Sylvania or Azolla are helpful in absorbing excess nutrients and clarifying the pond water. They also shade open water areas to minimize excess algae growth. Note: Some US States restrict the importation of certain invasive, non-native or potted plant species so you may have problems ordering them online.

Aquatic Foliage Plants

Some shallow water-loving plants are desirable more for thier leaf forms than their otherwise innocuous or uninspiring blossoms. The Acorus or Sweet Flag has striking lance-like leaves much like an iris, but dull greenish brown nubs for flowers. Only Dwarf Cattail is suitible for tub gardens. Grasslike vertical plants like rushes and sedges are great for adding height and textures to container water gardens.



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