Favorite Water Garden Or Pond Plants In Southern States
There are many southern states of the U.S. that share climates that are perfect for many species of plants, trees, and foliage. Eucalyptus, Oaks, Maples, Laurels, Pines, Willows, Magnolia, Walnut, Lemon Tree, Ashwood, and many more common trees grow wild in these area.
Wild plants that are beautiful and serve to be edible also grow wild in many areas such as the blackberry, cactus, wild holly, wild rice, and water spinach. These plants are edible and a great choice if you're interested in going green and providing your family with some natural wonderfulness.
Water gardens are a beautiful addition to any home landscape. They are not only beautiful, they set the mood for relaxation in your outdoor living space. Natural water gardens are easier to care for than one would think. In fact, the environment is nearly self sufficient when the natural biological balance is reached.
Ponds, or water gardens, are a favorite for many homeowners. In fact, the more the nation leans toward green living, the more homeowners are building swimming pools that are actually freshwater ponds. It's a relatively new idea that a lot of people are very interested in.
Freshwater swimming ponds for residential properties are designed to create an environment where plants and insects can survive while offering the homeowner a natural but controlled environment to enjoy swimming. Specific plans are followed in regard to plantings, sand, pond rocks, and all manner of aquatic living organisms.
Favorite plants for most ponds or water gardens in southern states include shallow water plants, water lilies, and submersible plants, as well as water cress.
Other popular pond plants are:
- Waterlilies
- Lotus
- Bog Plants
- Floating Plants
- Reeds & Rushes
- Water Iris
- Oxygenators
- Aquarium Plants
Oxygenators are important for your pond because they give your aquatic life plenty of oxygen to survive on and they serve to help keep the water clean. The Elodea is an outstanding oxygenator, as well as the Cabomba and Hornwort. And Myriophyllum.
The Myriophyllum is a sort of soft, spiky looking plant that you see commonly grown in fish tanks. It grows in small gravel or stones in shallow water areas. It is a wonderful oxygenator and gives your pond fish a very natural setting to thrive.
The plant is columnar and can be planted with your waterlilies, lotus or other bog plants. Fish love this plant because they grow in a way that helps them hide.
Watercress is full of nutrients and is a great addition to any water garden or residential pond. The watercress is related to the cabbage family and are great source for phytochemicals that serve as antioxidants that help to fight cancer and other diseases.
They also serve as a diuretic, and expectorant, a digestive aid, and in general are chocked full of vitamins A and C, folic acid, calcium, and iron.
In a lot of places, watercress grows wild, but is also commonly planting in water gardens. The plant is a leafy vegetable that is native from Europe to central Asia. It is one of the oldest known leaf vegetables that are edible. It particularly likes the clean, cold water and grows well on the banks of streams or ponds.
If left to grow, watercress can reach a height of up to nearly 4 feet. The stems of the plant are hollow which helps them to float. The leaves are pinnately compound, which means a blade that is divided into two leaves. When watercress blooms, they produce a cluster of small white and green flowers.
Many plants in the cabbage family are bitter tasting after they bloom. Watercress is no different, so be sure when harvesting you get them before they bloom. The new sprouts are also very tasty. Watercress is semi-aquatic, so it is well suited to water gardens or anywhere near your backyard pond.
While you may not want to eat your watercress plants, they are also very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The leaves are a mid-tone to light green and are very leafy looking, much like leafy lettuce.
Be careful of fool's watercress. It is slightly bluer, with flatter leaves than true watercress. It's not poisonous, but it does taste bad.
When you plan and set up your beautiful new backyard pond or you create a beautiful natural area for planting in your water pond, don't forget the watercress and other yummy edibles!