Tropical Lilies

• Lilies reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the bottom of the pond, helping control algae growth. Tropical lilies include day and night-blooming species. Day blooming lilies include Blue Beauty, a deep blue, fragrant lily and Evelyn Randig, a deep magenta plant. For large white flowers, plant Marian Strawn or White Delight. Purple flowers and fragrance come from Tina and Mrs. Martin E. Randig. Night blooming tropical lilies include Red Cup with its red, cup-shaped flowers and Red Flare, a variety with dark red petals and maroon stamens. The foliage of Red Flare is tinged with red. Texas Shell Pink produces light pink lilies that overwinter in many southern states.
  
  

Hardy Lilies

• Hardy water lilies bloom during the day. For fragrant, yellow flowers, plant Charlene Strawn with its long blooming period. Gloriosa offers red flowers that work well in tiny ponds. For white flowers, plant Gonnere and Marliacea Albida. Gonnere produces double flowers that grow best in northern states. For red lilies, Red Spider or Red Laydecker works well. Sunrise, with its large yellow blossoms, blooms during much of the summer.
  
  

Bog

• Bog or marginal plants offer a place for dragonflies and other insects to linger along the edges of the pond. Lotus, iris and lilies work well as bog plants. Plant Alba Grandiflora, a lotus with white flowers, or Empress, another lotus variety that produces white flower with blue edges. Both plants are fragrant. Another lotus, Mrs. Perry D. Slocum, changes from pink to yellow to cream colored and offers lots of fragrance. Iris choices include red, yellow and blue flowering plants. Sedges, cattails and rushes also grow along the edges of ponds where they require just a few inches of water to thrive.
  
  

Submerged

• Submerged plants grow underwater where they provide oxygen. Oxygen keeps a pond healthy with little algae buildup. Oxygen also helps support fish. Some submerged plants, such as elodea, anarchis and milfoil may cause problems in a pond since they often crowd other plant life. Some states restrict the use of these submerged plants for this reason. Native plants such as hornworth, coontail and fanwort work best. For shady ponds, vallisneria makes a good choice.