*Some of these plants may be restricted in your state: You need to be a responsible plant owner. Do not introduce or dispose of any plants into the environment. Keep your plants healthy and in your pond, or watergarden. Some states have bans/restrictions on some types of aquatic plants depending on how they affect local natural ecosystems. Our position is that you need to be aware of laws that concern your residence on aquatic plants. For more information if plants are banned/restricted in your state please contact your state government.

BEST FLOATING POND PLANT? - In my opinion, the #1 plant for fast growth and powerful water filtration is the water hyacinth and the jumbo's are the best way to go. In fact many cities in the USA use them to prefilter the waste water in their water treatment plants. If you put them in direct sun the first day the leaves have no fluids and the sun will burn the leaves. But once they are acclimated you can put them anywhere you wish. We have many customers who order full boxes (1 full box is 25 jumbo plants) each year. In my opinion, they are the best floaters for any purpose and the rest of the floaters are good, but not the high powered cleansing factories like hyacinth. However, if you have Koi they love to nibble on hyacinth root tips. Always keep some in the top of your waterfall box to replace the ones the koi tear up! Periodically the hyacinth will get their root masses entangled and it is suggested that you pull the root masses apart to encourage new growth.

Frogbit, Frog's Bit, Frogsbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) is a miniature floating plant with smooth shiny green heart-shaped leaves 1-2” across. Leaves are deeply notched at the base with thick spongy tissue in the center and on undersides. Frogbit looks similar to a small water lily, although, the name comes from how it resembles the chin of a frog in the water. Tiny cup shaped white flowers with a pale yellow center in July and August . Frogbit does best in still water with full sun to shade. Can be very aggressive with fast coverage and require periodic thinning. Frogbit will root where ever possible. Remove dead or dying foliage and flowers as they appear. Hardy to zone 7 or higher, winterizing is only possible indoors.

Sensitive Plant (Neptunia aquatica) Desirable creeping plant with small delicate diamond-shaped leaves that float on ponds surface. This aquatic plant Mimosa pigra is also called the Catclaw mimosa. Sensitive Plant grows to height of 6" and spreads to 36". It belongs to the family Fabaceae and is a native plant of the US. The Sensitive Plant should be treated as an annual aquatic. At night as the name suggests the sensitive thin and narrow leaflets fold up. Foliage also closes slowly when touched or injured. This species has been widely introduced as an ornamental plant. This pond plant propagates by seed or by cutting. Sensitive Plant blooms in summer with yellow Sweet Pea like flowers. Set out after the pond water has reached 70º F. Needs full sun to partial shade. Colorful yellow flowers in summer. The plant should be planted in soil 3-8” in depth, but can be floated on the waters surface. Zones 9-11.

Large Leaf Sensitive Plant (Aeschynomene fluitans) A larger variety of the sensitive plant can spread 6’ to 8'. Large Leaf Sensitive Plant is a very desirable plant with diamond-shaped leaves for surface coverage and can be trained up onto rocks. This giant aquatic plant Mimosa Pigra is also called the Catclaw Mimosa. It belongs to the family Fabaceae and is a native plant of the US. The Large Leaf Sensitive Plant is a perennial aquatic but, over time it may need to be replaced in an artificial pond environment. At night as the name suggests the sensitive thin and narrow leaflets fold up. Foliage also closes slowly when touched or injured. This species has been widely introduced as an ornamental plant. This pond plant propagates by seed or by cutting. The plant should be planted in soil, but can be floated on waters surface. Large Leaf Sensitive Plant blooms August and September with yellow Sweet Pea like flowers. Like most aquatic plants, to grow at its best, the Large Leaf Sensitive Plant needs a lot of good light and it will grow quickly. Set out after the pond water has reached 70º F. Plant in soil, allowing the stems to float on the waters surface. Hardy to zone 8 or higher.

Parrot’s Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) a member of the water-milfoil family (Halo-ragaceae), an aquatic perennial has a silvery-gray color in shade, and lime green colored in full sun. Parrot’s Feather with it’s feathery texture is a must have for your pond or watergarden. It softens the edges of the pond and adds oxygen to the water. When fish are spawning the trailing stems and roots provide structure for the eggs to cling to and a wonderful place for baby fry to hide. The stem and leaves can grow up to a foot above the water surface, giving the appearance of small fir trees. Fish are not known to eat Parrot’s Feather. It can be grown in pots or floating on ponds surface. Pot Parrot’s Feather with 3-12" of water over the top of the pot. Can also tuck plants in rock crevices in steam beds, or water falls where it will take root and grow out across the pond. Older stems tend to become less attractive, snip off the tips, and throw back in the water or push back into planting material. In a few days it will quickly grow new roots. Parrot’s Feather can also be used in aquariums. Quick and easy growing in full to partial sun. Plumes will grow to about 8 inches tall while the roots will filter the water. In the evening plants will close up and drops of water form on plant that sparkle in light. Hardy from zone 5-11, can winter over indoors put cuts from plant in a bowl of water with water-soluble fertilizer located in the sun.

Red Stemmed Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum Brasiliensis) is a very adaptable plant. Similar in habits to the green stemmed Parrot’s Feather it is a newer dwarf form. Attractive red-stemmed foliage that grows up out of the water with brilliant color contrast. Stems are red-blue which can intensify with sun exposure. Red Stemmed Parrot's Feather is excellent for oxygenating and maintaining clean and healthy water. It also provides a protective environment for small fish and wildlife. Water depth 0-18” over the top of pot. Water depth can be from 0" to length of mature stems up to 3 feet. Hardy to Zone 5.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) T Floating water hyacinths have glossy bulbous leaves on top of spongy leaf stalks. Orchid-like flowers are on an occasional single spike, usually a striking blue to purple in color. Water Hyacinth is one of the most beautiful and popular water plants for ponds and water gardens. Fish find use of the long stringy roots for protecting eggs and spawn. These efficient roots help water quality by filtering out impurities naturally keeping water clear. Water Hyacinths are delightfully fragrant in bloom. Set in vases, Hyacinths are ideal for growing indoors. Float these water plants on the pond surface. Hardy zones 9-10.

Jumbo Water Hyacinth larger in size these water garden plants provide instant coverage and water filtration. Beautiful Orchid-like flowers are on an occasional single spike, usually a striking blue to purple in color. For maximum surface coverage the Jumbo Water Hyacinth is the way to go. One plant averages about 1 foot wide by about 16 inches high. Just take them out of the box and float on the top of your pond water in a shaded area at first. Then move them into sun. The water hyacinth feeds off of the nutrients in the water. It is hard to conceptualize how spectacular and big these plants are. These plants will provide a very dramatic change in the beauty and coverage of your pond.

Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) a non-native Water Lettuce is a free-floating plant with lots of spongy, light green leaves. No planting is necessary. The leaves are covered with tiny hairs and arranged in a spiral pattern from the center of the plant. Water lettuce leaves are 1- 6” wide and are ribbed with veins through their length. Water Lettuce will grow in sun but prefers partial shade during heat of the day and will multiply quickly in warm water. Flowers are seldom seen and hidden between the leaves. Water lettuce can be very aggressive grower and will form thick floating mats. Water lettuce should be controlled so they do not cover the entire pond to prevent oxygen depletions. Submerged portions of these plants provide habitats for many invertebrates. These invertebrates are used as food by fish and other wildlife species.