In this blog post, we’ll explore the top 9 pond plants ideally suited for the warm climate of Charlotte, North Carolina. Whether you’re aiming for vibrant blooms, natural shade, or a habitat for aquatic life, these carefully curated plants are sure to make your pond a picturesque haven in the heart of the Queen City.
- Iris: Growing irises in a backyard pond can be a delightful addition to your garden in Charlotte, North Carolina. Irises are hardy and versatile plants that thrive in moist environments, making them well-suited for pond settings. Choose a sunny spot for your pond to ensure that the irises receive sufficient sunlight. Plant the irises along the pond’s edge or in shallow areas, allowing their vibrant and elegant blooms to enhance the visual appeal of your outdoor space. Charlotte’s climate, with its warm summers and mild winters, provides an ideal environment for these water-loving plants. Ensure proper soil composition and consider incorporating other aquatic plants to create a balanced and beautiful pond ecosystem featuring these graceful irises.
- Lotus: Lotuses are renowned for their stunning flowers and distinctive foliage, making them a captivating addition to any pond setting. Choose a location in the koi pond that receives ample sunlight for optimal lotus growth. Ensure the pond is deep enough to accommodate the lotus tubers and provide a rich, loamy soil mix for planting. Charlotte’s warm climate is favorable for lotus cultivation, and the koi pond offers a unique backdrop for these elegant aquatic plants. As your lotus plants mature, their large, fragrant flowers will add a touch of tranquility and sophistication to your outdoor space, creating a harmonious balance with the vibrant koi swimming in the pond.
- Tropical Water Lilies: These water lilies normally grow in warmer tropical regions. They tend to have much larger blooms then most hardy water lilies. They are able to survive and thrive in the summer climate of Charlotte, NC but will start to die off in the winter months as North Carolina has to cold of winters for this plant to survive in your pond. Every year we order tropical water lilies from Florida and grow them out in Charlotte during the Summer.
- Hardy Water Lilies: These water lilies are great for ponds in Charlotte, NC because even though they go dormat during the winter months they do return every year in the spring. Hardy water lilies come in all different types of colors and if fertalized properly with the correct amount of sunlight they can bloom all Summer long.
- Sweet Flag Grass: This is a name we call most aquatic grasses. They do great bare rooted on the side of a pond or stream. Simply place the root structure in the gravel and allow the plant to work itself into a good spot. This is a great aquatic plant because it stays green all year round even in the winter.
- Water hyacinth: This aquatic plant, boasting vibrant green leaves and captivating lavender-blue flowers, flourishes in the local warm climate. Beyond its visual allure, water hyacinth provides natural shade for pond inhabitants. Fun fact: It’s known for its rapid growth, making it a dynamic addition to your pond’s ecosystem. Embrace the beauty and ecological charm of water hyacinth in your Charlotte pond.
- Creeping Jenny: This is a ground cover that is most commonly grown outside of ponds and water gardens but also can do really well on the edge of ponds and banks of streams. This plant loves the water and will grow towards it and is a great way in softening the edge of a pond or stream making the overall feature look more natural.
- Impatients: These are annuals that can be planted on the sides of streams in the gravel. They are able to thrive when planted in an area where they are not submerged in water but have the bottom of their roots touching the water. They are great because in Charlotte, NC they bloom all summer long and even late into October they still look great!
- Pickerel Rush: Pontederia cordata, commonly known as pickerel rush, features upright spikes of blue-purple flowers and arrow-shaped leaves. Ideal for local ponds, pickerel rush thrives in the warm climate of Charlotte, NC. A hardy perennial, this aquatic plant is well-suited for pond edges or shallower areas. Its presence contributes to the overall ecological balance of the pond.
Check out the video below to see how we like to plant aquatic plants in ponds around the Charlotte region.