Marginal Aquatic Plants for Colorado

Easy-to-grow aquatic plants that add color, texture and softness around a water feature.

Alisma plantago-aquatica

Water Plantain

Lush, wide tapered leaves with pointy tips; flowers may range from white to pink; foliage may range from pure green to red stems and red-backed leaves; can tolerate depths up to 12-24 in.

Growth is a round compact plant, reproduces easily.

Phalaris arundinacea “Feesey”

Strawberries and Cream Ribbon Grass

Ornamental grass whose leaf blades are a creamy white with green stripes; in cooler months the white blushes pink and gives a nice effect in the spring and autumn; tiny tan flower plumes at end of tall stalk.

Caltha palustris

Marsh Marigold

The marsh marigold has round, dark-green leaves with two lobes at the base and ridged edges and yellow flowers that form on long stalks above the foliage. In the buttercup family, its blooms provide an excellent accent in early spring. A native Colorado species of marsh marigold has white blossoms and is one of the earliest of our spring flowers. This beautiful plant is usually in full bloom along with the tulips and daffodils in your gardens. It prefers part shade and extreme heat may burn leaves. It is very tolerant of cold temperatures making it a great Colorado plant.

Houttuynia cordata 'Variegata'

Chameleon Plant

Red stems that bear green heart-shaped leaves with swatches of yellow on their edges that change to shades of maroon in cooler temperatures; rampant runner and best contained if left in pot; does best if crown is rarely submerged under water; great border. Small white flowers produces in late summer.

Lysimachia nummularia

Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny has small round leaves that are a deep green and form in pairs along long stems. It provides a lush ground cover and is also ideal to hang in waterfalls and streams. Bright yellow star shaped flowers appear abundantly in the summer. It overwinters in mud or very shallow water (the crown does not need to be submerged below ice line). This plant grows quickly and adds softness to rocks in and around any water feature. It will grow in full sun to partial shade and grows very quickly. Although it grows quickly, it is easily managed and will not become a nuisance.

Butomus umbellatus’

Pink Flowering rushRush

Green, narrow sword-shaped leaves that stand upright; large umbrella-like flower heads at the end of a stalk that produces many pale pink flowers; can tolerate flooding up to 4 in.

Seasonal Care:

Overwinters best if left in pond due to its need of a mandatory dormancy period; no special care required.

(Shown here to the right or an iris)

Myosotis scirpoides

Blue Water Forget-Me-Not

This prolific aquatic Forget-Me-Not has lush green foliage with dainty blue flowers and is an excellent edge plant for a pond or stream. It provides great ground cover. It has dainty, blue star shaped flowers with yellow centers in cooler months and prefers some light shade. It overwinters well in either mud or shallow water. It is a must to tuck in between rocks to soften the edges of any water feature.

Juncus effusus “Spiralis”

Corkscrew Rush, also called Curly Wurly Rush

Tubular green foliage grows in clumps of tightly-spiraled stems that uncoil as it spreads in all directions; unique accent plant that gives texture to edges; sparse tiny brown flowers at the tips of some stems.

Mimulus gattutus

Yellow Monkey Flower

Yellow flowers resemble snapdragon blooms; prefer part shade; great along streams and margins. A Colorado native! Easy to take separate and make into new plants.

Typha latifolia 'Variegata'

Variegated Cattail

Crisp green and white vertically-striped foliage provides a striking accent. This cattail is definitely not as invasive as the solid green variety and can easily be pulled out.

Acorus calamus “Variegata”

Variegated Cattail

Bright green and white foliage that compliments any blue and purple blossoms in the garden; excellent filtration plant; grows best in moist soil.

Glyceria maxima aquatica

Variegated Manna Grass

Leaves are wide blades with vertical stripes of green and white; in cooler weather such as spring and autumn the white develops a soft pink tint; great for edges; can spread quickly. Easily pulled up if gets too thick and transplanted.

Scirpus zebrinus

Zebra Rush

Attractive long, round foliage that stands upright and is alternately colored green and white every few inches; fertilize well to help white markings stay more pronounced, as they also do in cooler temperatures; striking backdrop and adds great height.

Photos by Lannie Hagan

Marsh marigold photo by Enery Water Gardens

Parts of descriptions by Enery Water Gardens