Ideas for plants that will grow in my sinkhole

I have a very old sinkhole .It's about 3 acres large.It's surrounded by very large trees,Oaks,Pines,Raintrees,Palms,every wild vine that grows in zone 9,poison ivy,poison oak,etc,etc.It's also has all the surrounding streets storm run-off going into it.It also has underwater inlets and underwater outlets connected to the aquifer.It can rise several feet after a rain storm.It now supports Catfish and Blue gills.
My question is what water plants will grow in these conditions?
Don

I would think any that you like. Are you saying it goes dry some? Or that it rises rapidly?

never goes dry ,rises rapadly after heavy rains.If it rains for a long period or during a hurricane it can rise 7 or 8 feet over nite

If that's the case I would put the pots in the center of a tube that way it can go up and down with the water level. You may have to anchor them off. It would make them like the floating docks. If you plant in the pond and the water rises that rapidly it might kill them.

jeri11 do you mean a tire tube. Tie the pots to the tube?Like 1or3 gallon pots?

There was a thread some months back on floating islands. Would be perfect in your application. Try Googling.

That's similar to what I was thinking but maybe a child's swiming pool ring wouldn't have as much chemicals. Also use the floating cabbage or water hyiancits. Just a few will fill the whole area.

Jeri

If you wanted to plant directly in the pond I would check to see how long it takes to return to the normal water level after one of the drastic floods. If it only takes a day or two and does not constantly happen you should be able to plant it just like you would any other pond.

Thanks Jeri11 KatyMac Tetleytuna great suggestions and ideas. The sinkhole does after a long and large amount of rain does stay above normal for I'm afraid to long a period.That's been the problem up to this point.A floating island sounds like the solution.

donlaclair...
you should be able to grow some of the very attractive elephant ears (they now have purple leaves, or red stems, or variegated leaves, or......) Most grow in damp soil, or under water. You can also attempt water lotus (not water lily) as they also in both bog and water conditions. The lotus will send up large leaves on 3 foot stems, followed by flowers doing the same. Either way, you can get them to grow whether or not the water level changes.
Water Irises also come in a variety of colors now, and look beautiful in masses around the edge. Go for the Louisiana varieties to handle our heat and sun. Black Gamecock is a gourgeous black purple. I live in Florida and successfully grow all 3 in my ponds. Intense colors of water lilies will also look beautiful, if planted in an area you KNOW will stay full. Perry's Red if is fairly bright, and smaller varieties such as Tina are a bright blue/purple.

Don Try Planting Rice

Paul, I don't have the right kind of hat!

LOL!

LOL

Lotus, alot of Lotus and water lilies. Oh yes, that's would be terrific! I've seen Lotus growing in small natural pond-like around our lake. Some hardy kinds even survive our cool temp. here in the winter.

Kim that is beautiful. What is her name?

Jeri

Jeri,
Got this from a local nursery, un-named unfortunately. I lost several seedpods because I didn't know what to do with them. However, a baby has manage to make it through winter, beside its parent. 1st I thought the baby was a water lily, but's a seedling that escape the squirrel and made it. Darling little thing.
My pond, is in a shady side of the house. Not enough sun for them to flowers, so they're sitting on my pier and soak up all the sunshine I can provide.