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Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

Posted by hardin 7 SE OK (My Page) on
Sun, Mar 28, 10 at 20:52

I have nearly finished rocking the edges of the pond. Most of what I will need to finish up is around the water fall and on the berm. I am going to do those as I start adding plants, flowers and ornamental grasses. As I was trimming the liner and underlayment, I noticed the bermuda grass had snaked under the liner and it got me to thinking.

My question is this: Are there any types of plants that I DON'T want to plant too close to the pond or any that could cause problems with the fish if any parts get into the pond? Are there roots that are strong enough to punch through the liner and cause leaks?

I'd hate to plant anything that may cause problems with the liner. I plan to plant shorter grass and trailing plants to help soften the hard edges of the rocks.

What plants do you love? I need them to be able to handle full sun, high temps and drought as Oklahoma is very warm in the summer.

Thanks, Vickie


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

I have two bushes, a Rose of Sharon and a Lilac, planted close to my south pond edge. Both are large and mature and haven't caused any problem with my liner.

I like both because directly to the north of them, in about the three feet between the bush and the pond's edge, I have dense shade created from the bushes that allow me to grow a couple of shade-loving plants, astilbe, hosta, impatients (sp).

I'm going to add some various ornamental grasses this summer to the sunnier areas along the pond.


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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

I have two pretty large viburnum bushes, a Texas Star hibiscus, Rocket Ligularia, Jacob Cline Monarda, Ruby Slippers Lobelia, lemon balm and a clump of Musa Basjoo banana. Every year, I plant Canna bulbs as a backdrop. Also a few annuals to fill in where needed.


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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

I had this list in my design notebook for my pond...

While I've only used a fraction of these in my own garden, I think the key thing here is that these are plants that can take some wet feet (bog use) and then can be allowed to dry out a little (bog effect).

Obviously, if you give anything the right light and moisture, they can survive next to a pond.

Hope this helps.

As I said earlier, I'm redoing a long portion of my pond's edge this spring. I'm going to use some grasses, maybe create a little rockery area, and I'm going to break away from the ROCK Necklace-effect you often see around residential ponds.

USE ---------- BOTANICAL NAME, COMMON NAME, TOLERANT LIGHT
Bog/Pond Edge Ajuga Reptans, aka Bugle, Semi-shade
Bog/Pond Edge Calluna Vulgaris, Heather, Ling, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Cardamine Pratensis, Cuckoo Flower, All areas
Bog/Pond Edge Carex Paniculata, Greater Tussock - Sedge, All areas
Bog/Pond Edge Carex Pendula, Sedge, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Carex Pseudocyperus, Sedge, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Cirsium Palustre, Plume Thistle, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Comarum Palustre All areas
Bog/Pond Edge Dianthus Superbus, Pinks (carnations), Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Eriophorum Angustifolium, Cotton Grass, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Eriophorum Latifolium, Cotton Grass, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Eupatorium Cannabinum, Hemp Agrimony, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Filipendula Ulmaria, Meadowsweet, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Gentiana Asclepiadea, Gentian, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Geranium Palustrem, Cranesbill, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Geum Rivale, Water Avens, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Hypericum Calycinium, Rose Of Sharon, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Hypericum Moserianum, St. John' S Wort, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Impatiens Noli - Tangere, Busy Lizzie, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Iris Kaempfer, Japanese Iris, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Iris Sibrica, Iris, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Juncus, Rush, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Lasiagrostis Calamagrostis, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Liatris Spicata, Gayfeather, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Lysimachia Nummularia, Creeping Jenny, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Lysimachia Vulgaris, Yellow Loosestrife, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Lythrum Salicaria, Purple Loosestrife, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Mentha Longifolia, Horse Mint, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Mentha Piperita, Peppermint, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Mentha Rotundifolia, Round - Leafed Mint, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Molinia Coerulea, Tussocky Grass, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Myosotis Palustris, Marsh Forget - Me - Not , Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Osmunda Regalis, Royal Fern, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Pennisetum Compressum, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Petasites Hybridus, Butterbur, All areas
Bog/Pond Edge Phragmites Australis, Reed, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Potentilla Palustris, Marsh Cinquefoil, Sun
Bog/Pond Edge Primula Vialii, Rockery Primrose, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Sasa Palmata, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Schoenoplectus, Tabernaemontani, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Sinarundinaria Nitida, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Stachys Palustris, Marsh Woundwort, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Symphytum Officinale, Common Comfrey, Semi shade
Bog/Pond Edge Thelypteris Palustris, All areas
Bog/Pond Edge Trollius Europaecus, Globeflower, All areas
Bog/Pond Edge Typha Angustifolia, Reedmace, Sun


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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

The only plant I can think of that I would want to avoid near a pond would be bamboo. My understanding is that it can "drill" though anything it wants to.


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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

Any plant that looses leaves or flowers will deposit the leaves or flowers into your pond.


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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

Johnkr wrote:
"Any plant that looses leaves or flowers will deposit the leaves or flowers into your pond."

Excellent point; that's why I'm going to use some grasses at the edge.
My Rose of Sharon is a nice specimen, it's near my southern edge, but it has very small leaves and petals that evade my net.


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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

Thanks for all of the suggestions and tips. Pondbucket, that is a great list. It will keep me busy. Sounds like you are a list maker like I am.

So far, many of the grasses I have found are in the 2-3' range. Those would be good farther from the pond, and I have a few of those. I ordered some Blue Fescue "Elijah Blue" and Mother of Thyme which are shorter. We will see how those do. I am also anxiously awaiting for the arrival of several water garden plants for inside the pond. I hope they come in before the end of April, as we are going on vacation for 10 days. BooHoo.


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RE: Suggestions for plants outside the pond...?

  • Posted by jalal z3/Canada (My Page) on
    Sat, Apr 3, 10 at 3:37

Cattails can be very invasive as can some types of grasses-sorry I can't remember the name of it but its green with a narrow white stripe. I think plant selection should be based on what kind of a pond look you want. I prefer a more natural look so I don't have any flowering plants around my pond edge except for Siberian Iris which is a lovely grassy plant that is non invasive. I also have hostas, ferns and creeping jenny, creeping sedums (because in my zone they don't get invasive). I would love a Japanese Maple but it won't grow here so opted for Ornamental Rhubarb behind my one waterfall. It likes the shade but I do watch that none of the leaves hang into the waterfall filter as rhubarb is very poisonous. Oh I also plant calla lilies on one side of the pond near the patio as I like the look of the plant. My Irish Moss has come back every year but the Scotch Moss didn't make it. I plant Purple Fountain Grass (like the cattail look and the color) every year as it is not a perennial here.So that's my story..Patti


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