10 Bog Plants To Help Filter Your Garden Pond 

Garden ponds can bring a unique beauty to your yard and give you a place to relax and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Adding plants to your pond can increase its beauty and bog plants can help filter the water to keep it clear and more appealing to fish and other creatures who may call it home. Here are 10 bog plants you can add to your garden pond.

This garden pond shows a variety of bog plants that not only add beauty and depth, but also help filter it and keep it clear.

Iris

Irises can be planted as borders or added to water features such as waterfalls and bog filters. Their tall stalks and vibrant petals make them a beautiful addiction to any pond.

Irises get their name from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris. They come in a variety of different colors and are sometimes referred to as flags. Irises are the largest genus of the family Iridaceae and there are over 300 different species. Most are grown in traditional gardens, but some can be grown as bog plants.

Irises are beautiful bog plants that not only add beauty to your garden pond, but also help filter the water to prevent algae from growing in it. Irises can grow tall and full while tolerating complete sun, which makes them great to plant around the edges of a pond or around areas that need shade. They grow in mounds and in the early summer can produce blue, purple, or yellow flowers. Their thick root system also gives fish and other aquatic creatures a place to hide and spawn.

Cardinal Flower

Cardinal flowers have a bright red bloom that attracts insects and birds to the pond and create a beautiful border.

Cardinal flowers thrive in wet environments and are native to North and South America. These flowers were introduced to Europe in the 1600s and get their name from the red robes word by Roman Catholic Cardinals.

Cardinal flowers are stunningly gorgeous and are perfect for growing around the outside edges of a pond or in corners for thick accents of color. They reseed easily and each plant can live up to four years. They spread slowly and are easy to maintain. They have bright red blooms that attract hummingbirds and a variety of insects. They grow tall and can provide shade for fish or other plants that can’t tolerate a lot of sunlight. They prefer partial shade but are tolerant to full sun.

Cattail

Cattails have a distinct and interesting look. They provide shade to other plants and animals living in the pond and they have a deep root system that filters water well.

Cattails grow quickly and are usually one of the first plants to grow naturally in a new wetland area or around newly established ponds. There are over 30 species of these plants and many of them are edible. They grow from rhizomes and are perennials. 

Cattails are often found growing around lakes and large ponds. They grow in lines and bunches and their roots are perfect for filtering water. They look great lining ponds and grow tall and thin. They have reseed and can grow from rhizomes that appear underground. They can spread quickly but are easy to cut back and manage. Many animals and insects feed on them or use their thick stalks and full leaves for laying eggs or hiding from larger predators.

Pennywort

Pennywort has many uses and it grows full and thick in a variety of environments. It not only filters the water, it provides food and shade for fish and turtles.

There are many different species of pennywort but all look similar and have a low growing space. Some species are edible. Water Pennywort is sometimes called Indian pennywort, dollar weed, or marsh penny. Fossil records show that this plant has been around since the Middle Miocene period.

Pennywort is a popular plant that is added to ponds and even aquariums. He can grow well in full aquatic environments or as a bog plant. It spreads quickly and has disc-shaped leaves that create a unique look. It can grow in shaded areas but also does well in full sun. They don’t grow tall, so they look great when added to borders that have larger plants to thin sections that need to be filled in. Turtles love to eat pennywort and many fish and frogs like to lay their eggs in it.

Pitcher Plants

Not only do pitcher plants enhance the beauty of a pond, they also help reduce the amount of pests that linger nearby and help filter the water.

Pitcher plans are eye-catching plants that help filter pond water and can also reduce pesty insects. The large flowers are shaped like pitchers and their bright colors attract insects that get stuck inside. They help add nutrients back into the pond to grow good bacteria that help feed the fish and microorganisms that live there.

These bacteria also stick to their roots and help to filter the water. Pitcher plants create a unique look to any garden pond and they tolerate saturated soil well. They look best when grown in clusters and they do well in areas of low humidity that stay warm and dry.

Canna Lily

Canna lilies are beautiful and have dark, wide leaves and bright bold flowers. They add a pop of color to your garden and can spread larger every year with the right conditions.

Canna lilies are members of the family Cannaceae and are the only members of this family that flower. They are native to tropical areas but have been developed to survive temperate climates.

Canna lilies are perennial plants that come back every year. They have beautiful red, yellow, orange and thick green and burgundy foliage. They are versatile and can grow well in full sun. They also tolerate cooler conditions well. Their root systems collect particles and algae that might otherwise appear in your pond and cause it to become cloudy or green.

Pickerel Plant

Pickerel plants grow in large, thick bundles. They have long root systems that create an ideal filter for ponds of all sizes.

Pickerel plants grow tall and have eye-catching spiked flowers that last a long time to provide plenty of color and texture throughout the spring and summer months. They can be added to the border of ponds but can also be planted in pots and submerged in the pond.

They can thrive in standing water which makes them versatile and easy to place almost anywhere in a pond. They display spiked purple flowers when inbloom and attract a variety of insects.

Watercress

Watercress spreads quickly and stays low at the surface of the water. It can cover a lot of ground and provide a wide filter area to prevent dirt from running off into the pond.

Watercress are plants that are full of nutrients and they can be eaten by fish and other pond creatures as well as humans. They have leafy foliage that is thick and grows low to the ground.

In addition to being a great place for insects and fish to find shade and food, the roots are frilly and collect algae and other grime that can pollute the pond or make it appear cloudy. The plants can be harvested for salads or can be propagated by cuttings or seeds.

Taro

Taro leaves are large and provide a lot of shade to help prevent the sun from causing algae to grow fast and can also provide shelter for fish and insects.

Taro plants are easy to grow and are the perfect way to add some depth to a pond. They grow tall and have large leaves that provide shade for fish and other aquatic animals as well as plants that cannot tolerate full sun.

Taro can be used as a border plant, but the large leaves can also block the view of the pond. They look great when planted behind other plants and can grow in saturated soil, in water features, or with the bulbs fully submerged. The leaves must stay above water level. They are eye-catching and add a tropical vibe to any water feature or bog.

Taro is edible and is thought to be one of the first plants to be cultivated. In Asia and Africa, it’s considered a staple food item and the corms, leaves and petioles are all edible parts of the plants

Horsetail

Horsetail reed has long, thick stalks that provide shade and make an interesting border. It looks well with other plants and the stalks help filter water to keep the pond clear.

Horsetail is a type of reed that grows as tubes and can create a strong barrier or border. They look great grown in straight lines or in round bunches. They attract a variety of insects to the pond and their roots and bulbs filter the water well.

Horsetail can grow and spread very quickly so it may need to be trimmed back occasionally to prevent it from overtaking a pond and stealing nutrients from other plants. They can also be grown in pots to help control them or create specific designs. They do not flower but the stalks are attractive and sturdy.

If you have a garden pond and you are looking for a way to help make the water clear and free from algae, consider adding bog plants. You can add them directly to your pond or create a bog filter that filters the water as it flows through the roots of the plants. The above bog plants are just 10 options to consider adding in or around your garden pond.