Pond Plants with Fall & Winter Interest

Pond Plants with Fall and Winter Interest are those plants that bloom or display

color during the fall months and those that maintain foliage during winter (zone and weather dependent). Fall Color & Bloomers – plants that have colored foliage, seed heads or blooms in the late summer or fall (zone and weather dependent).

Black Madras grass

Black Madras Grass- Oryza sativa ‘Black Madras’ produces rice seed heads and bronzy, purple black foliage color. This grass is a gorgeous ornamental Asian rice grass in bronze - green foliage, then turns into a magnificent dark purple - black foliage late summer through fall. Grwos well at the edge of the pond or in container gardens. A compact fountain shaped grass, Full sun to partial shade, up to 20" tall. Hardy to Zone 8.

Typha minima "Europa" ‘Micro Miniature Cattail’ 12" to 18" tall with narrow needle like leaves, this is a really delightful, dwarf species. This unique micro-miniature cattail, produces delicate reed-like leaves which are bluish-green in color. it is one of the most popular pond plants available. Non-Invasive. Top of the pot should be 0-3" below the water surface. Typha laxmanii "Graceful Cattail" A excellent cattail for any pond with slender, round, pale-green foliage produces a narrower catkin then its cousins, although not as aggressive as the other cattail - recommend to leave in a pot, up to 48" tall, flowers mid to late summer. Planting depth: Top of the pot should be 0-6" below the water surface. Zone 3-10.

Crimson Lily

Schizostylus coccinea “River or Crimson Lily” Easy to grow, blooms start in February (some areas) and keeps blooming into early winter, red, pink or peach colored blooms. Perfect for cut flowers with 2’ thin iris like evergreen foliage topped with 2 ½’ - 3’ spikes of glowing salmon-red blossoms. Sun to mostly shade, up to 24" tall, Zone 7-9.

Hibiscus coccineus "Scarlet Rosemallow" This hardy hibiscus has enormous rose-red flowers, flared out with huge stamens. grows up to 6' tall, blooms in mid-summer - mostly sun Zone 8. Swamp Hibicus  H. moscheutos can be white, pink or bicolored flowers.

Aster elliottii “Marsh Aster” is a fabulous East Coast native aster; beautiful large green basal leaves give rise to giant 6-8' tall spikes. This late bloomer starting in late summer thru early fall is wonderful for pollinators from bumblebees to Monarch butterflies. The purple marsh aster has wide-spreading patches are topped with a spectacular show of 1" pink-purple daisies.  Aster elliottii grows easily in a bog or in typical dry garden soil.  

  There are several pond plants that are evergreen retaining their foliage during the winter. A few others are considered semi-evergreen when the winters are mild and will go dormant during extreme weather.

Black Flowering Sedge - Carex nigra Tufts of dark blue green foliage tumble haphazardly over each other. Chocolate brown flowers and seed heads are carried on stems that rise just above the foliage. Black flowering sedge makes a nice groundcover for low areas or along a stream or pond. Full sun to partial shade, Up to 10" tall, Zone 5.

Bowles Golden Sedge has arching variegated strapy foliage that grows into attractive mounds

Bowles Golden Sedge- Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ is a sedge with striking golden foliage bordered by thin green margins, growing taller than other varieties. This stand-out plant is ideal for partially shaded areas of water gardens and reaches up to 3 feet in height in Zone 4 of higher.

Horsetail- Equisetum hymale "Horsetail Reed". Very distinctive Jointed bamboo-like stems, Cylindrical habit when grown in a container. Prefers very shallow water to moist soil. Tolerates a little shade. Can be aggressive grows Up to 5' tall, Zone 4-9.

Corkscrew Rush - Juncus effusus Unique looking corkscrew-like foliage that is dark green with yellow variegation and evergreen. Full to part sun. Great alongside ponds, or in containers, clumping habit. Ht. 13-24”n x 18-24”. Zone 5

Blue Arrows Rush -  Juncus inflexus 'Blue Arrows' Narrow, straight, gray-blue leaves in stiff clumps with golden seed heads. Prefers moist soil. Full sun to partial shade. Ht. 18-24in. Zone 5.

Elk Blue Rush - Juncus patens 'Elk Blue' Finely textured stiff, rush with blue-grey foliage and small brown flowers. Upright habit. Sun to part sun. Dry or moist location. Ht. 20in. Zone 7

Bloody Dock is evergreen and edible!

Bloody Dock - Rumex Sanguineus, odd name for a wonderful decorative foliage with accents to showcase its oblong to lance-shaped medium green leaves (to 6” long) which are prominently veined with contrasting red to purple. Produces green to reddish brown blooms, Blooms June - July, Full sun, up to 30" tall, Zone 5.

Variegated Society Garlic - Tulbaghia violacea A popular variegated version of its cousin. This delightful small plant has grass-like leaves 1' long in grayish-green color. The large clusters of fragrant violet flowers rise up to 2' above the plant. Attracts pollinators with its showy fragrant flowers. Will produce flowers warm weather (spring, early summer, late summer thru autumn. Plant has a strong smell of garlic or onion when bruised or cut. up to 1' tall, Zone 7-9

Golden Variegated Sweet Flag - Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' Linear fans of glossy, pale green and cream striped leaves that create an overall golden effect. Works well on edges of ponds or moist soil. Full to part sun. Ht. 6-12in, Zone 6.

Water Hawthorne - Aponogeton distachyus. Newly put on the noxious weed list for Washington state. I am really sad about this as it is a great plant for winter interest taking the place of water lilies during the cool season and the bonus is they are fragrant!

Rain or Fairy Lily Zephyranthes flavissima  A light, airy pond plant with showy 2" yellow or white blossoms. In part sun to part shade can bloom all season into early fall. Great for small ponds, water gardens, and stream edges. Easy fast growing fairy lily is a great plant for those with black thumbs. Up to 15" tall, Zone 7-9.

Horsetail has long jointed stems, Blue Rush has tubelike foliage. Society Garlic has clusters of light violet edible flowers.

 Variegated Striped Rush -Baumea rubinosa ‘variegata’. Attractive rigid upright rush-like foliage bright to dark green with yellow vertical striping. Needle-like foliage produces rusty brown flower heads during the summer. Grows to 1.5-2’ tall or taller and 1-2’ wide spreading slowly into dense clumps. Versatile in both full sun-part shade in wet areas or in shallow water- keep crown out of the water. Hardy in Zones 7-11, evergreen during mild winters.   New Zealand native.