First, try going through the phone book in your area and looking for nurseries and garden centers. Many of them have some surprisingly good quality plants for sale, even this late in the season.

If that doesn't work, I use two internet sources exclusively ---

www.aquariumplants.com
www.watergarden.com

Don't let the name on aquariumplants.com put you off. They have a wonderful selection of pond plants and some of the best, healthy, robust water lilies I have ever seen anywhere.

Both places offer nice description of the plants' requirements, so you'll know how big they get, whether they're hardy or tropical etc.

I've included the link below to one. The other, you'll need to copy and paste.

Here is a link that might be useful: aquariumplants

I know I've seen them for sale at Mahoney's, and I'd recommend them as a garden store, at least--my pond is still under construction, so I haven't gotten water plants anywhere yet. They've got a website & if you do the ask-a-question stuff on it, they actually respond pretty fast. They've got several locations in eastern MA

i have been buying my plants via the net. i found this pond and fish store that is cheeper than any of the places i have found near me. they ship really quick and they always send extra incase some don't make it. but i have not had any problem with this at all. here is there link. i hope it helps..

http://www.pondandgardenwholesalers.com/servlet/StoreFront

Hi, I live in the Merrimack Valley area, Country Brook Farms in Hudson NH and Lake Street Garden Center in Salem NH both have pond plants. Country Brook farms is on 3A and Lake Street is off of Rte. 28.