Wildlife pond plant help please.

[Tobyh]

Hi all,

I finally got myself into gear and have dug my wildlife pond. It's 3.5m by 2.5m with a max depth of 70cm (most is alot shallower)

I'm really looking for some help with plants please. As I'm really bad on the plant ID front I'm finding it hard to narrow down to what I should put in. I'd like to keep it mainly native and obviously avoid anything invasive. I have shelves and will most likely use pots to start with.

Can anyone spare the time to share any expertise on which are the best to start please?

I do have books and have read loads of threads and my head is now spinning!

Thanks in advance

TobyH

[josephine45]

Oxygenating Plants

These group of plants are the most important in a wildlife pond. These plants

have there leaves and roots in the water of the pond. A few of these flower and

some have leaves that go above the pond. What is important about these plants

is that they provide oxygen for the whole pond which in turn Stops the pond from

going stagnant. You should have plenty of submerged plants in your pond or

oxygen plants as they are most commonly referred to but make sure that

they do not take up more than 70% of the water if they do you should cut them

back. an other important role of these plants is that they provide very important

shelter many animals lay there in them. The best oxygenating plants to get for a

wildlife pond are the ones native to your country . These plants will be suited to

the climate and animal life. If you live in Britain I recommend you get these

oxygenating plants:

Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum)

Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum demersum)

Water Starwort (Callitriche stagnalis)


hope this helps to start you off

[galanthus]

I wouldn't be without my water hawthorn as a deep aquatic, self seeds beautifully and smells amazing, also the kingcup for emerging dragonfly nymphs etc. Wld deffo recommend the book 'rock and water garden expert' by D G Hessayon. Can get it for pound or 2 on ebay and very very good.

[Tobyh]

Thanks for the replies - that gives me a good start

TobyH