The Best Pond Plants to Plant in Spring (Australian Guide)

Spring is the best time of year to plant up your pond. The water is warming, plants are waking up from winter, and anything you plant now has the whole growing season to settle in before the heat of summer.

Planting in spring also gives you a head start on algae. Algae loves the warm, sunny days of late spring and summer, and the best way to keep it in check is to have healthy, growing plants already in place to soak up the nutrients it feeds on.

In this guide we share our favourite pond plants to plant in spring, how many you need, and a few simple tips to get them off to a flying start.

When should I plant pond plants in Australia?

In most of Australia, the best time to plant is from September to November, as soon as you see new growth on the plants already in your pond. In cooler areas, such as the Southern Highlands, Canberra and the Victorian high country, wait until the frosts have finished before planting frost-tender plants.

You can keep planting right through summer, but spring planting gives plants the longest possible season to grow and flower.

How many pond plants do I need?

For a healthy, balanced pond we use our 3-2-1 rule. For every square metre of pond surface, plant:

• 3 oxygenators to help keep the water clear
• 2 marginal plants for the edges
• 1 flowering plant, such as a water lily

Not sure of your pond size? Our Pond Plant Calculator works it out for you.

Oxygenators: plant these first

Oxygenating plants grow mostly under the water. They take up nutrients directly from the water, competing

with algae, and give fish and tadpoles somewhere to shelter. If you only plant one thing this spring, make it oxygenators.

• Upright Water Milfoil – an Australian native with fine, feathery foliage. One of the best plants for clear water.
• Pink Rotala – pretty and hard-working, with small pink flowers above the water in the warmer months.
• Water Hyssop – an easy, versatile plant with small blue flowers and leaves that smell of lemon when crushed.
• Red Dragonfly Milfoil – a milfoil with red-tinged stems for a splash of colour.

Want them all in one go? Our Oxygenator Starter Pack is an easy way to start. Shop all oxygenating pond plants.

Marginal plants: structure for the edges

Marginal plants grow in shallow water around the edges of the pond. They soften hard edges, add height, and give frogs, birds and dragonflies somewhere to shelter. Spring is the ideal time to plant them, as they establish quickly once the weather warms.

• Water Iris 'Sextet' – tall, upright leaves and beautiful light purple flowers.
• Dwarf Papyrus – a classic feature plant that adds height and drama.
• Dwarf Umbrella Grass – compact, tough and great in smaller ponds.
• Bare Twig Rush – a hardy Australian native rush with fine, upright stems.
• Golden Sweet Flag – bright golden foliage that lights up the pond edge all year.

Shop all marginal pond plants.

Water lilies: plant corms now for summer flowers

Spring is the best time to plant hardy water lily corms. As the water warms, the corms put out roots and leaves quickly, and most will reward you with flowers through summer and into autumn.

Some of our favourites this season are Attraction (deep crimson red), Fabiola (soft pink), Bianco (white), Darwin (deep pink) and Yellow Princess. Or try our Water Lily Starter Pack of four corms.

Plant each corm in a lily planting basket of heavy soil and give it the sunniest, stillest spot in the pond. Our guide on how to plant and grow water lilies walks you through it step by step. Shop all hardy water lilies.

More flowers for spring and summer

• Water Orchid – bright yellow, orchid-like flowers through the warmer months.
• Goddess Lily 'Sparkles' – white trumpet flowers and white-speckled leaves for a part-shaded edge.
• River Buttercup – a native with glossy yellow flowers.
• Swamp Goodenia – a low, carpeting native with yellow flowers for boggy edges.
• Running Marsh Flower – a native with glossy floating leaves and yellow flowers.

Shop all flowering pond plants.

Edible pond plants: start your water garden harvest

Plant edibles in spring and you'll be picking fresh leaves all summer. They're fast growers, so they're great at soaking up nutrients too.

• Vietnamese Water Mint – a spicy herb for salads, laksa and rice paper rolls.
• Chocolate Water Mint – a rich chocolate-mint aroma, lovely in drinks and desserts.
• Water Celery – an Australian native with crisp, celery-flavoured stems for summer salads.
• Water Chestnut – plant in spring and harvest crunchy corms when the foliage dies back in autumn.
• Water Garlic – mild garlic flavour from the pond edge.

Shop all edible pond plants, or start with our Culinary Starter Pack.

Spring planting tips

• Repot and divide existing plants. Spring is the time to split plants that have outgrown their pots. See our guide to repotting pond plants, or grab a Pond Plant Repotting Kit.
• Start feeding. Push a Pond Plantz fertiliser tablet into the soil of each pot once a month from September to March. Read more in How to Fertilise Pond Plants.
• Use baskets on the marginal shelf. Our plants arrive in a floating ring, so you can pop them straight into the pond. Once they're settled, move them into baskets of heavy soil on the shelf around your pond.
• Give flowering plants the sun. Water lilies and most flowering plants need at least six hours of direct sun to flower well.
• Tidy up first. Remove dead leaves and sludge before you plant. Our spring pond preparation guide has the full checklist.

The easy option: starter packs

Not sure where to start? Our pond plant starter packs are hand-picked mixes of plants that grow well together. The Pond Starter Pack gives you six plants for one square metre of pond, following our 3-2-1 rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to plant pond plants?

In most of Australia, September to November is ideal. In cooler areas, wait until the frosts have finished.

Can I plant pond plants in winter?

You can, but most pond plants are dormant in winter and won't grow until the water warms up. Hardy water lily corms and many marginals can be planted in winter and will start growing in spring.

Which pond plants help stop algae?

Oxygenators and fast-growing marginals are the best natural algae fighters, because they take up the nutrients algae needs. Read Do Pond Plants Really Stop Algae? to learn more.

Do you deliver plants to my state?

We deliver pond plants Australia-wide except WA and Tasmania, due to quarantine rules. Every plant is backed by our 14-Day Thriving Guarantee.

Ready to plant? Shop our full range of pond plants and make this spring your pond's best season yet.

 

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