Aquatic flowers do not all grow the same way: some are rooted underwater with leaves floating on the surface, some grow from submerged roots with stems and flowers above water, and some float freely. Choose by the plant’s mature size, preferred depth, light and local growing conditions—not by the word “aquatic” alone. These 17 options range from water lilies to shoreline plants; check the plant label and local regulations before buying.
Floating-leaved flowers: rooted below, leaves on the surface
These plants are anchored in a pot or pond bottom. Their leaves float, but they are not free-floating plants.
1. American white water lily (Nymphaea odorata)
This rooted water lily has fragrant white flowers that rise above floating leaves. Its underwater rhizomes anchor it in the pond. Choose a cultivar suited to your climate and check its planting depth and mature spread.
2. Hardy water lilies (Nymphaea spp.)
Hardy water lilies bloom during the day and are usually not fragrant. In cold climates, some can persist when the surface freezes if their roots remain below the freeze line; suitability depends on the cultivar and pond conditions. Select by the plant’s mature spread and the depth specified on its label.
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- Vibrant Pond Plants for Water Features. Grow beautiful water hyacinth with these 200 premium seeds. Ideal for enhancing koi ponds, backyard water gardens, and small natural ponds with lush aquatic plants and floating greenery.
- Natural Filtration with Aquatic Plants. Water hyacinth plants help improve pond water quality by absorbing excess nutrients. These aquatic plants support a balanced ecosystem, offering a sustainable option for maintaining clean water naturally.
- Easy to Grow Water Plants from Seeds. Simply float germinated water hyacinth seeds on the surface of warm water under full sunlight. These pond plants thrive quickly with minimal effort, providing fast-growing coverage for aquatic spaces.
- Enhance Pond Aesthetics with Water Plants. Create a lush, vibrant look with these aquatic plants. Water hyacinths produce green leaves and delicate purple blooms, making your pond or water garden visually appealing throughout the growing season.
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3. Tropical water lilies (Nymphaea spp.)
Tropical water lilies are frost-sensitive and often fragrant. Depending on the variety, flowers may be blue or purple, and some varieties bloom at night. Confirm the cultivar’s warmth and depth requirements before planting.
Emergent flowers: roots in water, growth above it
Emergent plants grow from submerged or waterlogged roots, while their leaves and flowers rise above the water. They are useful for adding height and vertical blooms to a pond edge or container.
4. American water lotus (Nelumbo lutea)
American water lotus produces yellow flowers, with leaves and flowers held above the water. It roots in mud. Unlike a water lily, its leaves are not chiefly floating pads at the surface, so allow for an upright growth habit when choosing a location.
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- Miniature Oasis: Create a tranquil water garden in any space.
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- Versatile Planting: Perfect for bowls, ponds, and containers.
- Easy Care: Ideal for both beginners and experienced gardeners.
5. Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata)
Pickerel weed bears upright flower spikes that may be lavender, pink or white. Bees visit the flowers. Confirm the plant’s mature height and the wet or submerged placement it needs in your water garden.
6. Duck potato, or lance-leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia)
This species has arrowhead-shaped leaves and white flowers on tall racemes. Keep the botanical name with the common name when shopping: “arrowhead” is also used for other Sagittaria species with potentially different growing requirements.
7. Golden canna (Canna flaccida)
Golden canna grows along waterways and has lightly fragrant yellow flowers. Flowers may wilt during midday heat. The broader name “water canna” can refer to other plants, so check the species or cultivar rather than assuming its needs match this one.
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- [Round Coin-Shaped Leaves] Produces glossy, shield-like leaves 1-2 inches across with radiating veins. Resembles miniature lily pads.
- [Creeping Growth Habit] Spreads via creeping stems that root at nodes, forming dense mats 2-6 inches tall. Ideal for ground cover in moist areas.
- [Easy to Grow] Adapts to wet soil, shallow water, or full submersion. Tolerates low light. Perfect for ponds, aquariums, and containers.
- [Thrives in Wet Conditions] Prefers consistently moist to waterlogged soil, making it perfect for water gardens. Grows well in full sun to partial shade. Tolerates both submerged and terrestrial growth. Very low maintenance once established.
- [Sun and Seed Needs] Requires full sun to partial shade with wet, water-retentive soil. Soak seeds in warm water for 12 hours before sowing. Sow on surface—press gently, do not cover deeply. Maintain 68-77°F; germination 7-14 days. Keep soil constantly moist. Hardy in zones 8-11; grow as annual or indoor plant elsewhere.
8. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Cardinal flower is a shoreline option for a water garden, generally suited to wet soil or marginal placement rather than being treated as a fully submerged plant. Check whether it is native to your area and follow the supplier’s placement guidance.
9. Skyflower (Hydrolea corymbosa)
Skyflower is another shoreline plant named for water gardens. Availability and suitable habitat vary by region, so confirm the plant’s identity and local growing requirements with a knowledgeable nursery before adding it to a pond.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute10. Lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana)
Lemon bacopa is used in water gardens and can be propagated from stem fragments. Ask the supplier how it should be positioned for the intended display, since a marginal or emergent presentation is not the same as keeping a plant fully underwater.
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- Pond & Lake Shoreline Seed Mix contains a specialized selection of grasses, sedges, and rushes to establish an erosion resistant root system at the water's edge- Each aquatic plant species in the blend is selected for it's microhabitat on the shoreline
- Sedges like to have their roots in the water, but the crown of the plant out of the water- with their dense root mass, they do the hard work of protecting against wave action- sedge roots often extend 18" or more into the soil
- Rushes are hardy pond plants included in the blend that grow in water up to 6" deep- stems provide excellent habitat for bluegill fry and minnows and are a habitat forr birds and waterfowl
- Great for new pond construction or ponds with shoreline erosion issues- germination begins in 7-10 days with sufficient soil moisture- plant aquatic grass seeds within 12" of the normal water line
- Package includes 1 lb of aquatic pond plant seeds which covers up to 4500 square feet
11. Crinum lily (Crinum americanum)
Also called swamp lily, Crinum americanum is a native water-garden choice in Florida guidance. Common names vary, so verify the botanical name and ask the nursery for the appropriate growing depth for your site.
12. Water bluebell
Water bluebell is listed as a flowering choice for mixed aquatic containers, but that common name alone does not establish a species or its care requirements. Identify the botanical name from the seller and check its placement and depth before planting.
13. Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Yellow flag iris is a tall, spiky option for a mixed water-garden container. Its status varies by jurisdiction; check local invasive-plant and restricted-species lists before buying or planting it.
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- Specialized Aquatic Plant Soil – Formulated to promote healthy root establishment and robust growth for pond plants.
- Maintains Clear Water Quality – Peat-free and compost-free formula prevents floating debris and excess nutrients that can cause algae blooms.
- Ideal for Various Aquatic Plants – Perfect for water lilies, lotus, marginal plants, and other aquatic vegetation.
- Secure & Nutrient-Rich – Dense media structure allows maximum nutrient absorption while keeping plants securely in place.
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14. Calla lily
Calla lily can be used in a broad-leaved aquatic-container arrangement, but that does not mean every calla cultivar belongs permanently underwater. Check the cultivar’s label and keep its crown and roots at the position specified by the grower.
15. Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.)
Arrowhead is a broad-leaved aquatic-container plant, but the common name covers multiple species. Choose a species identified by its botanical name, then confirm that species’ flowering habit, mature size and depth needs.
16. Water canna
Water cannas produce flowers in colors carried on tall stalks. The name is not interchangeable with golden canna (Canna flaccida); verify the species or cultivar, its mature size and its recommended position before planting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Free-floating flower: not anchored in a pot
17. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water hyacinth floats freely and produces lavender flowers. UF/IFAS describes it as invasive and fast-multiplying. Do not release it or its fragments into waterways. Its legality and restrictions depend on location, so check local and state rules before considering it; where it is prohibited or difficult to contain, choose a locally appropriate alternative.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHow to choose and position aquatic flowers
- Match the plant to its position. Distinguish floating, floating-leaved, emergent, marginal and bog plants. A plant whose roots need water can still have leaves and flowers above the surface.
- Check depth and mature size. Use the supplier’s label for planting depth and eventual spread or height. Some plants tolerate a range of depths; others need a more exact position. Do not assume one depth suits every plant.
- Consider light, warmth and water movement. Check the chosen plant’s light and climate needs. Some aquatic plants prefer still water and may not suit a fountain or strongly moving water.
- Use pots to adjust height. In a container pond, raise or lower a potted plant with bricks or an inverted clay pot to reach its recommended level. Illinois Extension cautions that a canna planted too deeply can drown.
- Use suitable planting media. For shoreline plants in containers, Illinois Extension recommends heavy clay soil with a gravel cap; light potting mix may float and cloud the water. Follow species-specific planting directions.
- Plan for balance, not maximum coverage. Combine surface cover from plants such as water lilies with upright emergent flowers, while leaving open water. UF/IFAS recommends keeping mature plant coverage to no more than two-thirds of the water surface; this is practical guidance, not a universal biological threshold.
- Be conservative with fertilizer. UF/IFAS advises conservative fertilization in water gardens. Follow product and plant-label directions to avoid adding more nutrients than the feature needs.
When to plant
The Royal Horticultural Society advises: “Aquatic plants are best planted in late spring or early summer, when the water is warming up, which helps them to settle in well.” That is general UK guidance, not a calendar for every climate. In colder or warmer regions, use local timing advice and the plant’s own hardiness and temperature requirements.
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