Incorporating a water feature into your landscape is an exciting way to experiment with different plant types. The best thing about aquatic and semi-aquatic plants is that they require very little additional care once they are established. Read on to learn about our top picks for these water-loving plants.
What is an aquatic plant? These are plants that can grow in water either by rooting themselves in muddy, saturated areas or floating untethered on the surface. The water lily and water hyacinth are great examples—and they are easy to grow!
These fully aquatic plants are incredibly easy to care for once they are correctly situated in your pond, not to mention they are absolutely stunning! The flowers of water lilies come in pink, red, blue, purple, or classic white.
The thing to be most cautious of when planting water lilies is ensuring you maintain their spread. Otherwise, the lilies may fill the water’s surface and kill off any other plant or animal life forms that need access to the sun. The simplest way to avoid this issue is by planting your water lilies in containers and then submerging them to rest on the bottom of the pond. Be sure you slowly adapt your water lily to deeper waters; if submerged all at once, you risk rot.
The papery, thin purple petals of this fully aquatic plant make it one of the most popular pond plants. Its growth habits are similar to that of the water lily, as water hyacinths require very little care once established, though they can also be quite invasive if their spread isn’t properly managed.
You can add water hyacinth’s directly to a pond or plant them in a container, such as a barrel. Ensure you are not planting them in soil containing organic materials; this can introduce bacteria into the water and negatively impact other life forms sharing the space.
The main difference between aquatic and semi-aquatic plants is that the roots of semi-aquatic plants can enter the water either partially or entirely for the plant to grow. In contrast, aquatic plants require their roots to be fully submerged. Here are our top picks for easy-growing semi-aquatic plants.
Semi-aquatic irises are widely popular for their rich flower color options, including maroon, blue, purple, pink, white, and yellow. In their native habitat, the Louisiana iris grows in locations near bogs, ponds, and in roadside ditches that maintain consistent moisture. These plants will not survive in dry conditions, so keeping them in an area with soil that’s constantly wet is a must.
This plant is unique to any other semi-aquatic plant we have. The strange twisting, curling growth pattern is the result of its name, and though it doesn’t produce flowers, the green foliage of this exceptional plant provides more than enough interest.
Corkscrew rush can thrive in any moisture-retaining medium, such as soil, loam, or clay, making them a perfect addition to locations like the edges of ponds, rain gardens, or water features like fountains.
It may surprise you to see hibiscus featured on this list, but one particular variety called the swamp hibiscus will clear up any confusion. Swamp hibiscus is native to wetlands, marshes, and generally swampy areas in the Southeastern United States.
Despite the rather unappealing name, this semi-aquatic plant offers large stunning blooms in various colors that lend a tropical look to any garden space. Plant swamp hibiscus in damp areas, like around the edge of a pool, where it will receive enough moisture to satisfy its needs but isn’t fully submerged. If your plant stops blooming, it could be an indication that the soil is too dry.
Growing aquatic or semi-aquatic plants is an exciting and rewarding experience as it allows the gardener to create their own ecosystem in their backyard. Studies have also shown that time spent near water reduces stress and increases feelings of calm and happiness, which are perfect reasons to add something aquatic to your yard.
To boost your mood, stop by one of our Greenstreet Gardens locations to see the aquatic and semi-aquatic plants we have in stock!
At Greenstreet Gardens, we take pride in the fact that our number one goal is to make our customers successful.
Equipped with a diverse wealth of information and a knowledgeable staff, we are confident that we are able to provide all of the right tools and plant material necessary to help make your gardening ideas become reality.
© Greenstreet Gardens 2025 | All Rights Reserved.
