Shallow Water Plants - Hardy Varieties

Hardy plants are hardy to U.S.D.A. zone 5. Tropical plants are considered annuals or need to be brought indoors for winter protection.

Water Willow (Justicia americana) 12″- 18″h, small white flowers with leaves similar to a willow

Blue Lobelia (Lobelia syphilitica) 2′h, flowers Aug.-Oct., lance shaped green leaves with blue flowers held on tall spikes

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 2′h, flowers Aug.-Oct., lance shaped green leaves with intense red flowers held on tall spikes

Swamp Hibiscus (Hibiscus moschuetos) 4 ‘h, flowers July-Aug., broad leaves with large white flowers

Scarlet Rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus) 4 ‘h, flowers July-Aug., large scarlet flowers with leaves similar to a Japanese Maple

Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifoilum) 1 ‘h, flowers May-June, short grassy dark foliage with cotton-like flowers

Variegated Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus ‘variegatus ‘) 2′-3 ‘h, green and cream striped foliage

Water Plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) 2′h, flowers July-Aug., small white flowers sit atop ovate foliage, referred to as water baby’s breath

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris’) 1 ‘h, flowers April, bright yellow flowers in early spring, prefers light shade

Variegated Striped Rush (Baumea rubiginosa ‘variegata) 2′h, narrow dark green foliage with vertical yellow stripes, semi-evergreen

*Pennywort (Hydrocotyle verticillata) 6″h, rounded leaves on small stems, has a creeping habit, great for streams

Horsetail Rush (Equisetum hyemale) 3 ‘h, jointed cylindrical leaves that are also evergreen

Iris(lris spp) 2′-3 ‘h, we carry many species of aquatic iris including yellows, blues, purples, and pinks. (Please inquire about current selection.)

Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nutmmularia aurea’) 2″h, flowers June-Aug., a creeping shallow water ground cover with bright yellow flowers

Corkscrew Rush (Juncus effussus ’spiralis’) 1 ‘h, unusual dark green corkscrew stems

Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifolia) 8″h, flowers April, trifoliate leaves with light pink flowers has a creeping habit

Aquatic Mint (Mentha aquatica) flowers Aug-Sept., mint scented foliage with lilac-pink flowers, great for biological filtration

*Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) 6″h, feathery light-green foliage has a nice creeping habit, great for fish spawning

Golden Club (Orontium aquaticum) 1 ‘h, flowers April-May, waxy-green foliage with spikes of odd yellow and white flowers

Water Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scirpoides) 6″h, flowers April-May, creeping ground cover with sky blue flowers

Pickeral Rush (Pontederia cordata) 2′h, flowers June-Sept., shiny, broad, dark-green leaves with bright blue/lavender flowers

Miniature Spearwort (Rammculus flammula) 1 ‘h, flowers May-Aug., lots of buttercup yellow flowers with small green leaves

Lizard’s Tail (Saururus cermuus) 1 ‘-3 ” flowers July, triangular green foliage with delicate cream colored blossoms

Zebra Rush (Scirpus lacustris ‘zebrinus ‘) 4 ‘h, bold green and white banded foliage

Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) 2′h, flowers July-Aug., wide arrow-shaped leaves with small white flowers

Powdery Thalia (Thalia dealbata) 4 ‘h, flowers July-Sept., large dramatic foliage with small powdery purple flowers

Miniature Cattail (Typha minima) 1 ‘-2′h, flowers May-June, small cattails sit atop very narrow blue-green foliage

Dwarf Cattail or Graceful Cattail (Typha laxmannii) 4 ‘h, flowers May-June, slender pale-green leaves

Narrow-leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia) 6′h, flowers May-June, narrow dark-green leaves

Variegated Cattail (Typha latiolia ‘variegata ‘) 5′h, flowers June-July, striking green and cream foliage

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distachium) 4′-8′h, deciduous needle tree, have been known to grow over 100′ tall in the wild

Variegated Water Celery (Oenanthe javanica ‘flamingo) 1 ‘h, bright pink, green, and white foliage

Water Celery (Oenanthe aquatica) 1 ‘-2′h, bright green foliage, white flowers in summer, excellent plant for biological filtration

Pink Butterfly Flower (Asclepias incamata ‘cinderella’) 3 ‘-4 ‘h, flowers Aug., clusters of soft pink flowers, attracts butterflies

White Butterfly Flower (Asclepias incarnata ‘ice ballet’) 3 ‘-4 ‘h, flowers Aug., pure white flower clusters, attracts butterflies

(Tender Hardy, more tolerant in zones 6-7, however will over winter in zone 5 if mild winter.)