Water Hawthorn (Aponogenton)

Aponogeton distachyos is amongst one of the most effective Deep-water aquatics, currently its a simple plant to grow with leaves which can be evergreen and flowers that come into sight for months on end. These curious flowers borne on spikes that float on the surface, each flower has waxy white petals and black anthers. The fragrance is powerful, variously described as 'vanilla and 'Hawthorn-like'. The oblong leaves are sometimes blotched with brown and the eventual reach is about 2 ft. Different to the Water Lily it will flourish in partial shade and moving water, but make sure that it is deep enough for the tubers that they are below the ice in winter.

Pond Lily (Nuphar)

This is a relation from the Water Lily family nonetheless it isn't as gorgeous as it's illustrious cousin. The flowers are small, rather plain and are carried on thick stems above the water. You will find, however, a small number of distinct advantages, light as well as shade is no problem and neither is moving water. For an average sized pond choose 'Nuphar minima' (N. pumila). The yellow flowers are about 1inch across and also the under-water foliage is translucent. Regrettably, the varieties on offer are often the enormous ones for example N. lutea (Brandy Bottle) with its 3 inch bottle shaped yellow flowers which smell powerfully of alcohol. This is only ideal for a big pond or lake.

Water Fringe (Nymphoides)

There is simply one basic species - Nymphoides peltata, commonly often known as Floating Heart. In your catalogues you might locate it listed as Villarsia bennettii or Limnanthermum nymphoides. The tiny Water Lily-like leaves measure about 2 inches across and are often crinkly edged and blotched or dotted with brown. The 11/2 inch yellow flower is more like a Buttercup than a Water Lily, and the petal edges are fringed. The flowers are borne in small clusters. This is a useful plant for giving quick surface cover before Water Lilies have become established, however it could possibly get out of hand.

Golden Club (Orontium)

Orontium aquaticum is a trouble free and non-invasive plant with just one fussy requrement, it does require lots of soil, so be sure to plant it inside of a deep Water Lily basket. It can grow in shallow water, but it needs a planting depth of not less than 1ft if you'd like the leaves to float around the water surface instead of standing erect out of the water. The foliage is eye-catching with blue-green colour above and silvery below. The greatest characteristic of this member from the Arum family is the bizarre flower head. This stands above the water like a pure white pencil that has a tip that's coloured gold by a mass of little yellow florets. This is one aquatic plant which I would certainly not hesitate to recommend to somebody.