Secretly Aquatic Plants
Secretly Aquatic Plants
They are plants that we think of as normal land plants (terrestrial) but in fact, can be grown as bog plants! Often, nurseries will sell them to you as "aquatic plants" that seem to be different than regular plants (and cost more) but are the same exact plants.
Chives
Botanical name: Allium schoenoprasum
Hardiness Zone: 3 – 9
It’s really an annual. Can re-seed itself. Planting Depth/Habitat: Zone 1. 0 inches. Plant should be out of the water. The crown can be in the water, with the root ball maybe slightly out.
Size: 6 to 12 inches
Flowers: purple round flowers
Tags: Secretly aquatic
What to Know:
What to know:
Start with a chives plant. Put the root ball so the soil line is just barley above the water. Put in the side of a stream where the rocks protect the dirt of the root ball.
These are edible. Just cut some green stalks, chop them up in your salad for an oniony flavor or just eat them right there in the garden!
Coleus
Botanical name: Solenostemon
Hardiness Zone: 10 to 11
Perennial or Annual: Annual
Planting Depth/Habitat: just the roots int eh water, not the crown. Protect the root ball with rocks that won’t wash away.
Size: 6 to 20 inches tall
Flowers: Little spikes. Foliage is the main interest.
Tags: Secretly aquatic
What to Know:
The crown of the plant should be above the water line. The roots can be down in the water.
Make sure to use sun loving coleus, unless you have a shady pond. I’m going to try this one this year so I am not sure which varieties do best.
Creeping Jenny
Botanical name: Lysimachia Nummularia
Hardiness Zone: 3 – 10
Perennial or Annual: Perennial
Planting Depth/Habitat: Bog plant, Planting zone 1. 0 to 4 inches
Size: 2″-14″ in. can spread 2 to 4 feet!
Flowers: little yellow flowers
Tags: Secretly aquatic, planting zone 1
What to Know:
This a fantastic plant to soften up edge or hide a little liner that might be showing.
You’ve probably seen this as a terrestrial plant. You might have also seen the same plant name, and the plants looks somewhat different. Here is the secret: although they look slightly different and the aquatic plant costs more..THEY ARE THE SAME PLANT! YES! They are darker green when planted in soil and lighter when planted in water.
Just buy the cheep ones at Walmart (not kidding!) like I do and put them everywhere. Not invasive, they spread just the right amount!
Hibiscus
Botanical name: Hibiscus
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9
Perennial or Annual: Perennial
Planting Depth/Habitat: Bog plant, Planting Zone 1 . water can be 1 to 4 inches over soil line.
Size: 5′-8′ Spread 2 to 3 feet.
Flowers: White, pink red, depends on variety
Tags: Secretly aquatic, Planting Zone 1 or 2, Bog Plant, Hardy in Colorado
What to Know:
What to know:
Want to attract butterflies and bees? Put in Hibiscus!
They have plate sized flowers! These grow to a full on bush, so make sure to put them on the back side of the pond so they don’t block your view.
Impatiens
Botanical name: Lysimachia Nummularia
Hardiness Zone: 10 to 11
Perennial or Annual: Annual (and well worth it!)
Planting Depth/Habitat: Bog plant, Planting zone 1. 0 to 2 inches
Size: 2″-8″ in. can spread 2 to 4 feet!
Flowers: Lots of them! Pink, or white, or purple, or fusia, white, or pink…
Tags: Secretly aquatic, planting zone 1
What to Know:
This is my favorite secretly aquatic plant! You can buy these in a 6 pack of little 2 inch long plugs and slip the root ball right down between some rocks, maybe put a little gravel over it, and these guys will grow to MOUNDS of flowers!
I think they work really well on the side of a waterfall or stream. Just make sure the root ball is protected and shoved between some good size rocks. Make sure the soil line is just above the water line.
Pick the colors you want to enjoy for the season and you get to pick different ones next year!
They start off small, but will go nuts! They will crowd out other plants so don’t put them too close.
Mint
Botanical name: Mentha aquatica
Hardiness Zone: 5 to 11
Perennial or Annual: Perennial/annual
Planting Depth/Habitat: Bog plant, Planting Zone 1 . water can be 1 to 4 inches over soil line.
Size: 5′-8′ Spread 2 to 3 feet.
Flowers: White, pink red, depends on variety
Tags: Secretly aquatic, Planting Zone 1 or 2, Bog Plant, Hardy in Colorado
What to Know:
This plant can be invasive. But, it can also be delicious in iced tea. SO….you just have to make a choice.
Bees and pollinators love it too!
It is a perennial but similar to an annual, the roots it puts down allows it to pop back up next year. Even if you pull it out, some will be left and it will come back! Pull out as necessary.
Taro
Botanical name : Colocasia esculenta
A variety of names like Black Magic Taro, Elephant ear and other varieties.
Hardiness Zone: 10 to 11
Perennial or Annual: Annual (and well worth it!)
Planting Depth/Habitat: Bog plant, Planting zone 1. 0 to 6 inches
Size: 2 to 4 feet!
Flowers: no
Tags: Secretly aquatic, planting zone 1
What to Know:
Black Magic taro will bring the WOW to your pond! It likes moist soil and partial shade. You can even leave it in the pot (with holes) and surround it by some larger rocks to keep it in place.
Plants are an experiment!
As I try out new plants I will add them. Have you tried one I don’t have? Let me know and I will add it!
What have I tried that didn’t work?
Petunias!