Each year my small 480 gal goldfish pond gets less sun from a nearby magnolia and a rhododendron. The magnolia I keep pruned up away from the water. The rhododendron kind of does its thing. It's a 15 yr old yakushimanum that I just can't take the pruners to. Because of the lack of sun I got one lonely flower from a Perry's Dwarf Baby Red water lily last season. I don't expect any next year. Are there any water plants at all - they dont have to flower- that will grow in shady conditions?
Water Plants For Shade
My pond is in pure shade and Elodia somewhat like parrots feather and water hyacinth grow like crazy . BEV
Lizzard's tail will thrive under shaded pond as well. Be careful with these they can spread seedlings to other garden sites and 'take hold' and won't let go. lol. Indeed they're very invasive in ground.
Oh, I'm so glad there's something! It looks like The best combination for my little pond would be the elodia and the Lizards Tail. I appreciate the possible spreading warning on the Saururus cernuus. BTW my DH was in stitches while I learned to pronounce the Latin. He suggested I stick to the common name. Said people might think I have a speech impediment.
I working up my 2009 spring plant list. This was a big help.
Elodia is an oxigenating plant. It will grow fast so just take some out once in a while and toss on compost pile. If you let it take over the fish will not have room to swim and may get hung up so keep check. It does have a little white bloom sometimes. BEV
Don't go buy any. Just dmail me. It over winters in the pond. BEV
I sure will dragonfly62. I appreciate it!
Umbrella Palm and some of the elephant ears grow in water....I use them for my koi pond, and they are in the shade.
Elephant ears might be oversized for a 480 gal. My favorite is 'Illustris'. My non-gardening daughter, who can't tell a dandelion from a rose, knows this one by name and reminds me to find and grow one every year. But, I've always potted them. You've given me a great idea for the big koi pond though. I'd kind of forgotten they can be grown in water. The Umbrella Palm is however is perfect. The dwarf variety will be just right. I'm on the local Water Garden tour next summer ( not a member - no time ) and I want to spruce some stuff up. Actually I need quite a bit of sprucing.
Thanks All!
I use the cement half blocks as my planters....with no soil, just pebbles....the plants suck the nutrition out of the water, which also helps keep the water algae free. Any roots that start to spread out get nibbled off, which keeps them limited in size.
Wow, you've just done my job for me. I think I'll pick up a half block this week and leave it out for the winter, then start soaking it inside in March to get some of the lime out.
Mary, I'm concern about the cement blocks, they are known to alkalinize the water? And affect planting, maybe our fish too? I used smooth river rocks (big ones) to help anchoring my aquatic plantings.
Gardener in Al.
Kim
Good point to bring up! This is what I do:
I soak the blocks in a tubby of water in the sun for a few weeks, which leaches out the alkali....and starts building some green algae, making them semi-healthy with good bacteria. In all the years I've used them, I've never had a problem.
'Attraction' (waterlily) blooms for me in the shade (my pond gets 2 hours of sun max). I also have pickerell (sp?), water forget-me-not, hostas in my pond