Common-spike rush (Eleocharis acuta)
Depth: Zone 3
A perennial with unbranched stems and leaves like sheaths, up to 60cm tall. Several small flowers per spikelet (up to 4cm long) at top of stem. Excellent habitat plant.
Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum crispatum/papillosum/varifolium)
Depth: Zone 3-4
A very attractive plant with green pinelike leaves which trail across the water surface. Good oxygenating plant and ideal for protection and spawning of fish. Will grow in semi-shade to full sun.
Excellent habitat plant.
Entire Marshwort (Nymphoides germinata)
Depth: Zone 4-5
Hardy perennial. This plant will conjure up images of Monet with water lily shaped leaves and very attractive fringed, star-shaped yellow flowers extending above water.
Grey Rush (Lepironia articulata)
Depth: Zone 3
Long, round grey stems up to 2m tall. Height and grey colour makes it stand out from other freshwater plants. Excellent habitat plant.
Jointed Twigrush (Baumea articulata)
Depth: Zone 4
Dark green rush to 1.5m. Robust, large clumps with round flower stalks from creeping rhizomes. Soft, tubular green leaves. Excellent habitat plant.
Nardoo (Marsilea mutica)
Depth: Zone 4
4-leaf clover-like fronds, up to 10cm, on soft/limp runners/stems to 1 metre long. This plant was partially responsible for the death of Burke and Wills, explorers who ate the plant.
Ribbon Grass (Vallisneria spiralis)
Depth: Zone 2-3
Long green tape-like leaves up to 1cm wide. Tiny white flowers on a coiled stem. This is a popular aquarium plant.
Swamp Lily (Ottelia ovalifolia)
Depth: Zone 4-5
This perennial or annual water lily has very attractive small flowers with a 5cm diameter. Definitely an underused aquatic classic.
Water Chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis)
Depth: Zone 5 EDIBLE
Perennial grass-like sedge with tube-shaped, leafless green stems 1-1.5m. This plant is a must for the permaculture pond with edible corms that can be eaten raw, boiled, grilled or pickled.
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
Depth: Zone 2 EDIBLE
Fast-growing perennial with dark bronze green foliage and creeping clusters of small white flowers. This edible plant contains significant amounts of minerals and vitamins.
Water fern (Azolla pinnata)
Depth: Zone 1
Small fern up to 2.5cm with overlapping leaves 1-2mm long. Blue-green or dark red, it is coated in tiny, water-repellent hairs with velvety appearance. This plant has weed potential but makes excellent compost.
Woolly Frogsmouth (Philydrum lanuginosum)
Depth: Zone 2-3
Evergreen soft-wooded perennial with yellow flowers. Leaves are narrow and flushed red. Excellent habitat plant.
Yellow Bladderwort (Utricularia gibbia ssp. exoleta)
Depth: Zone 1
Yellow flowers on erect stems up to 20cm tall. This is a carnivorous plant that can still be found on the Lane Cove river and traps and digests small aquatic creatures.
Prohibited Weeds
Some pond plants have been declared as weeds and must be controlled under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993.
Weeds controlled in NSW are: Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana), Hygrophila (Hygrophila costata), Hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis), Leafy elodea (Egeria densa), Sagittaria (Sagittaria platyphylla), Salvinia (Salvinia molesta), Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes).
Full list of prohibited weeds under Pest and weeds management.
Tips
- Obtain your pond plants from reputable and/or accredited nurseries and sellers. If you source plants from friends, have them checked for suitability as well for the presence of pest species of disease as this can easily be spread by sharing plants.
- Young children should wear flotation jackets and always be well supervised.
Where to purchase plants?
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens Nursery
420 Mona Vale Road, St Ives
Open 7 days.
View current plant catalogue (pdf. 130KB)
9424 0353
kwg@krg.nsw.gov.au
krg.gov.au/nursery