Water Needs

Wet / Bog

26 plants

Golden Sweet Flag · Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' A low grassy bog plant forming fans of bright gold-and-green striped leaves with a faintly sweet scent when crushed. Ideal for the edge of ponds, rain gardens and damp borders.
Soft Twig Rush · Baumea rubiginosa A native marginal sedge forming neat clumps of fine green stems, useful for stabilising pond edges and natural water filtration. A reliable choice for constructed wetlands and rain gardens.
Canna 'Bengal Tiger' · Canna 'Bengal Tiger' A bold bog-tolerant canna grown for dramatic green leaves boldly striped in yellow and edged maroon, topped by vivid orange flowers. Thrives in rich, wet soil at the pond margin or in borders.
Tall Sedge · Carex appressa A vigorous weeping sedge forming a lush green fountain of fine arching foliage. Thriving in damp and boggy ground, it is a go-to for rain gardens, pond edges and erosion control.
Taro · Colocasia esculenta Enormous heart-shaped leaves on tall stalks, often flushed in dramatic dark purple. A water-loving tropical that makes a lush, bold feature in a bright, humid spot.
Dwarf Papyrus 'King Tut' · Cyperus papyrus 'King Tut' A more compact selection of papyrus with the same green firework heads on slender stems, ideal for tubs, pots and small water features. Grows happily in saturated soil or shallow water.
Papyrus · Cyperus papyrus A tall, architectural marginal sedge with triangular stems topped by spherical bursts of fine green thread-like bracts. Dramatic at the edge of large ponds or in bog gardens.
Water Hyacinth · Eichhornia crassipes A free-floating aquatic with glossy rounded leaves on inflated buoyant stalks and showy lavender-blue flower spikes. A declared noxious weed across much of Australia and illegal to keep in many states.
Chameleon Plant · Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' A spreading bog groundcover with heart-shaped leaves splashed red, cream, yellow and green, and small white flowers. Vigorous and can be invasive in damp ground, so often best contained in a pot.
Japanese Water Iris · Iris ensata An elegant moisture-loving iris with large flat-faced blooms in shades of purple, blue and white over slender upright foliage. Loves wet ground in spring and summer but prefers drier feet in winter.
Louisiana Iris 'Black Gamecock' · Iris 'Black Gamecock' A Louisiana iris bearing rich velvety deep purple-black flowers with golden signals, held above strappy green foliage. Thrives in boggy ground or at the edge of ponds.
Pale Rush · Juncus pallidus A hardy Australian native rush forming dense clumps of stiff, upright pale-green stems, thriving in wet ground and pond margins. Excellent for bog gardens, rain gardens and bank stabilisation.
Nardoo · Marsilea drummondii An Australian native aquatic fern with four-lobed clover-like leaves that float on the surface or stand above damp mud. An iconic inland wetland plant; its spore cases were ground for food by Aboriginal peoples.
Upright Water Milfoil · Myriophyllum crispatum A native semi-emergent aquatic with feathery whorled foliage that rises above the water surface. A useful oxygenator and habitat plant for natural ponds and frog bogs.
Sacred Lotus · Nelumbo nucifera A striking aquatic perennial with large blue-green leaves held high on stems above the water and fragrant pink to white bowl-shaped flowers followed by distinctive seed pods. Best in full sun in warm climates.
Waterlily 'Attraction' · Nymphaea 'Attraction' A vigorous hardy waterlily bearing large deep garnet-red cup-shaped blooms flecked with white, held just above floating green pads. A classic, reliable choice for medium to large ponds.
Waterlily 'Colorado' · Nymphaea 'Colorado' A free-flowering hardy waterlily with warm salmon-peach blooms that deepen as they age, held above mottled pads. Compact enough for tubs and small ponds.
Water Snowflake · Nymphoides indica A dainty floating aquatic with small heart-shaped leaves and frilly white star-flowers fringed with delicate hairs. Quickly covers the surface of warm ponds.
Water Lettuce · Pistia stratiotes A free-floating aquatic forming rosettes of soft, velvety pale-green leaves resembling a floating lettuce. A declared weed in Australia and prohibited in several states.
Pickerel Weed · Pontederia cordata A hardy marginal aquatic with glossy spear-shaped leaves and showy spikes of violet-blue flowers through summer that attract bees. Excellent for pond edges and bog gardens.
Arrowhead · Sagittaria platyphylla A marginal aquatic with broad lance-shaped emergent leaves and whorled spikes of small white flowers. Note this species is a declared weed in parts of southern Australia.
Zebra Rush · Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani 'Zebrinus' A marginal rush prized for its upright cylindrical stems banded horizontally with cream and green. A striking vertical accent for pond edges and bog gardens.
Powdery Thalia · Thalia dealbata A bold marginal aquatic with large blue-green canna-like leaves dusted with white bloom and tall stems of purple flowers. A statuesque feature for the edge of ponds.
Cumbungi · Typha orientalis A vigorous native marginal reed with strappy upright leaves and the familiar brown cigar-shaped seed heads. Spreads strongly, so best confined to large dams and natural wetlands.
Eelweed · Vallisneria australis A native submerged oxygenating aquatic with long ribbon-like leaves that sway in the current. Valuable for keeping pond water clear and providing habitat for fish.
Calla Lily · Zantedeschia aethiopica Elegant white spathes curl around a yellow spadix above glossy arrow-shaped leaves, thriving in boggy ground. A serious environmental weed in parts of Australia and toxic to pets and people.