The Fish Works

Water Plants for Fish Ponds

At The Fish Works we have an extensive range of water plants available for the outdoor pond or water feature, as well as all the info you need to keep your plants looking healthy and happy! Water plants can make the difference between a nice fish pond, and a beautiful one.

Water plants don’t just look nice, they perform several functions that are beneficial to the health and well-being of your fish and the water quality of your fish pond. After all, plants are a big part of any ecosystem, which is what we are trying to create.

Water plants for sale at our Sydney shop

The Fish Works has an extensive range of water plants for the outside fish pond or water feature. Our in-store aquatic plant nursery is stocked year-round with a wide variety of specialised pond plants to suit any environment. From full shade to full sun, 10cm deep to 100cm deep – we will have something for you. To see some of the plant varieties we regularly stock please scroll to the bottom of this page.

Why have water plants for ponds?

Pond plants utilise nutrients in the water for their growth, thereby taking some of the load off the pond filter. Excess nutrients in your pond can lead to poor fish health and problems such as algal blooms, which can turn your water cloudy or green.

Plants also provide cover for your fish from the harsh sun and birds such as kookaburras and cranes. Shade from the sun also lessens the chance of your pond having algal blooms.

On top of all of this, they make for an interesting environment for your fish, giving them an environment that is ever-changing to explore and find food within.

Selecting Aquatic plants for your fish pond

When selecting fish pond plants, keep in mind the depth of your pond, the amount of sun it is receiving and the types of fish you have. All plants that come out of the water, such as reeds, papyrus, irises and marginal plants require shallow water of around 20cm in depth (they just want to have their feet wet!). If your pond is deeper than this, then you may need to prop up your plants on some bricks or rocks.

Water lilies like water to be at least 35cm deep and need lots of sun in the summer to flower well. Lotus also like plenty of sun and ideally to stay contained to the water in their pot; that way when they are fertilised all of the nutrients is kept close to the roots.

All our water plants come potted, and usually, you just plonk them into the water when you get them home. We package all of our water plants in a tough plastic bag or waterproof box, so they will not leak in your car.

Our expert staff are always on hand to help talk you through the process of choosing what plant will perform the best for your specific pond. We are more than happy to do this in store or alternatively please feel free to give us a call or send through an email and we can make some recommendations for you that way 🙂

Watergardening tips

Of course, every pond plant will have slightly different requirements – but there are some general rules that, when followed, will ensure your plants thrive to their full potential!

It is important to select the correct aquatic plant for the amount of sunlight you receive (for ideas on how to choose the correct plant please read above). Most pond plants love full to partial sun, for those with shady water we recommend trying out arum lilies, king tut papyrus and umbrella grass. (please have a look at our pond plants for sale section on this page for a better idea on the lighting requirements of different plants)

If you want to get the most out of your water plants, we have one industry secret… fertiliser! We reccomend fertiliser for most flowering plants, particulalry water lilies and lotus but really you can use it for any plant you want to see some extra growth out of. It is very important to note however, that you CANT use your standard garden fertiliser for water plants, particulary if you have fish. These fertlisers can cause algal blooms and add harmful chemicals to the water. You should be using a specialised water plant fertiliser like the ones you will find HERE

How to repot waterplants

All you need is some overgrown water plants, water plant soil, some spare pots and some newspaper

1) Line the pot with a bit of newspaper that will block the holes of the pot.
2) Separate an individual water plant that has grown out of its pot. Try to cut the plant so that it retains much of its new growth roots. Cut-away any old leaves.
3) Place the root ball of the plant into the pot (if there is no root ball, then just dangle the roots into the pot, holding the water plant at the eventual level that you wish to have the plant sitting.
4) Pack the soil into the pot so that it will support the plant at the right level, around 20mm below the top rim of the pot.
6) Fill in the remaining 20mm with gravel (this will prevent your naughty fish from digging into the water plant soil!).
7) Place the water plant into the conditions that particular species likes (sunny? shady? correct water depth etc).

Water plant soil for sale

If you need any more advice when it comes to repotting pond plants please don’t hesitate to contact us. We sell a wide variety of pond plants as well as potting mix for water plants and water lilies from our Sydney-based store. We also have plant fertilisers available for purchase in-store or online.

Water Lilies for Sale

Nymphea species

Everyone LOVES waterlilies! So we have lots of water lilys for sale! Their classic flowers are big, beautiful and evoke Japanese water garden ambience. We love them because when one bloom opens, another is usually pushing its way up to keep the display going for a large part of the year. You can’t get much better than these in your pond. We recommend getting a mixture of both temperate and tropical water lilies so that the flowering is more evenly spread out over the spring, summer and autumn seasons. Temperate (sometimes referred to as “hardy” water lilies) are more likely to keep some leaf cover over winter as well.

Best in full sun. Will cope with limited semi-shade but… less sunshine means less blooms.
Floating leaves spread up to 1.5m in diameter.
Can be grown in small ponds but needs to be fully submerged in up to 60cm water depth.
Low maintenance, remove dead leaves and flower heads as required.
Provides shade for fish during summer months and some camouflage for fish to help prevent bird attack.

Warning! Koi like to nibble around the root zone of water lilies so we recommend a layer of gravel on top of the pot to discourage fish from digging.

Temperate lilies vs Tropical lilies

TEMPERATE (Hardy water lilies)

Hardy water lilies are the toughest water lilies often from temperate climates with cold winters. They range in colour from white to yellow, pink and red and include gorgeous two-colour peach/orange/yellow varieties. They have rounder leaves, their flowers tend to sit closer to the water and they usually flower earlier than tropical lilies.

These water lilies keep their leaves throughout winter.

TROPICAL WATER LILIES

Even though Tropical Water Lilies come from warmer more tropical regions, the varieties we sell do well in temperate NSW conditions. Tropicals tend to have taller flowers, pointier leaves, and continue to flower until late in the season. Their flowers range in colour from whites and pinks to purples, mauves and blues.

These water lilies die back completely in winter but re-shoot in early spring.

Night Flowering Lily

These amazing lilies open their flowers at night instead of the day releasing their delicate fragrance into the night air, however their flowers often stay open on a cool morning. They have some unique flower and leaf colours ranging from dark burgundy leaves with attractive serrated edges to stunning dark pink blooms. A great pond flower to impress your dinner guests!

These water lilies die back completely in winter but re-shoot in early spring.

Purple Mosiac Fringe Lily

(Nymphoides ‘crenata’)

Add colour to your pond with this striking little Australian native waterplant. This is a popular choice because of the dark tortoise-shell-patterned purple and green variegated leaves that add colour when not flowering. Prolific small star-shaped yellow fringed flowers in warmer months with a long flowering season. A real favourite.

Floating leaf tendrils spread up to 1m in diameter.
Full sun.
Can be grown in shallow or small ponds but needs to be fully submerged up to 30cm deep.
Low maintenance, remove dead leaves as required.
Provides shade for fish during summer months and some camouflage for fish to help prevent bird attack.
Frogs love to attach their spawn/eggs to the leaves of this native floating waterplant.

Water Snowflake

(Nymphoides indica)

A very popular Australian native water plant. Small star-shaped white fringed flowers pop up near the top of the water lily-shaped leaves. This happy little plant is a prolific bloomer with a long flowering season through the warmer months of the year.

Floating leaf tendrils spread up to 1m in diameter.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in shallow or small ponds but needs to be fully submersed up to 30cm deep.
Low maintenance, remove dead leaves as required.
Provides shade for fish during summer months and some camouflage for fish to help prevent bird attack.

Pond plants for sale at The Fish Works

The Fish Works sells a wide variety of pond plants. We sell established water plants in pots that you can just plonk into your pond! No need to bring a bucket, as we can bag them for you so there will not be a mess in your car. Currently we do not ship water plants due to their fragility.

Arum Lily – ‘marshhallow’

(Zantedeschia aetheopica)

Stunning soft pink-flowering arum with lush deep green leaves that creates a lush tropical look.

Clumping pond plant that reaches up to 50cm high.
Full shade to filtered sun.
Can be grown in a bog garden or shallow pond up to 15cm deep.
Low maintenance, remove dead flower heads and leaves as required.
Creates an excellent frog habitat, they love to hide amongst the fleshy stems.

Arum Lily – ‘Green Goddess’

(Zantedeschia aetheopica)

Gorgeous green and white flowering arum with double variegated leaves (spots and marbling). This lovely goddess creates interest and a lush tropical look in any pond or water pot.

Clumping plant that reaches up to 40cm high.
Full shade to filtered sun.
Can be grown in a bog garden or shallow pond up to 15cm deep.
Low maintenance, remove dead flower heads and leaves as required.
This is a low maintenance plant.
Creates an excellent frog habitat, they love to hide amongst the fleshy stems.

Arum Lily – ‘White Gnome’

(Zantedeschia aetheopica ‘minor’)

A classic white flowering dwarf arum with pointy bright green leaves and stunning white flowers. This gorgeous water plant creates a lush tropical look year round even when not flowering.

Clumping water plant that reaches up to 30cm high.
Full shade to filtered sun.
Can be grown in a bog garden or shallow pond up to 15cm deep.
Low maintenance, remove dead flower heads and leaves as required.
Creates an excellent frog habitat, they love to hide amongst the fleshy stems.

Swamp Mazus

(Mazus pumelo)

A pretty little Australian native plant with small dark green foliage and attractive purple or white flowers in warmer months. This is a low-growing plant with a groundcover-type habit that creeps over the edge of ponds and rocks.

Spreads up to 50cm in diameter.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or shallow pond up to 15cm deep.
This is a low/medium maintenance pond plant that may require light pruning to maintain the desired shape.

Blue Bacopa

We love the small dark green glossy foliage on this Australian native pond plant. Small blue flowers appear on growing tips in warmer months. This cute low-growing waterplant with a ground cover type habit creeps over the edges of ponds and rocks. This water plant is also a great food supplement for fish.

Spreads up to 40cm in diameter.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or shallow pond up to 15cm deep.
This is a low-maintenance plant that is good at filtering water.
Creates an excellent frog habitat around the edge of a fish pond..

Stone Crop

(Crassula helmsii)

This cute little Australian native water plant just loves sitting on the side of a pond or water feature. Small, star-like white flowers appear on growing tips in warmer months. The low-growing habit makes this an ideal foliage plant for little frogs to hide in.

Spreads up to 30cm in diameter.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or fully submerged in a shallow pond up to 15cm deep.
This is a low/medium maintenance plant that may require light pruning to maintain the desired shape.

King Tut Papyrus

(Cyperus papyrus)

A beautiful and versatile pond plant has gorgeous green pompom-like foliage that creates an architectural look in formal ponds or a soft lush look for a tropical garden feel. One of our all-time favourites, this plant is always a great choice for ponds and water gardens.

Clumping plant that reaches up to 100cm high.
Best in full shade but will tolerate full sun.
Can be grown in a bog garden or shallow pond up to 10cm deep.
Very hardy and strong.
Low maintenance, remove dead heads as required.

Rainbow Nardoo

(Marsilea mutica)

Ann Australian native water fern that has four leaf clover-like floating leaves with a bright yellow spot in the centre of each leaf for added colour. Mainly grow as a foliage plant, the cheery ‘lucky clover’ leaves make a beautiful display in any pond or water garden.

Floating leaf tendrils spread up to 1m in diameter.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in shallow or small ponds up to 30cm deep.
Medium maintenance, remove dead leaves as required.
Provides shade for fish during summer months and some camouflage for fish to help prevent bird attack.
Frogs love to attach their spawn/eggs to the leaves of this native waterplant

Three Cornered Rush

(Schoenoplecus mucronatus)

This bright green Australian native water plant is a favourite of ours and has long reed-like three-sided leaves. Attractive small flower/seed heads appear on the ends of the leaves adding interest and texture to any outdoor pond or water pot.

Clumping plant that reaches up to 80cm high.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or pond up to 20cm deep.
Very low maintenance, remove dead/bent leaves as required.

Cigar Rush

(Lepironia articulate)

A tough Australian native pond plant with blue-grey cylindrical foliage. We love this water plant as it has stunning architectural form and features small cigar-like flowering pods. A great height addition to any water feature or pond.

Clumping waterplant that reaches up to 200cm high.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or fully submerged in a pond up to 60cm deep.
Very hardy and strong.
Very low maintenance, remove dead/bent reeds as required.

Bare Twig Rush

(Baumea Juncea)

A small and delicate Australian native water plant with blue-grey cylindrical foliage. Tough and hardy, this interesting waterplant looks good all year round. We highly recommend this gorgeous little rush to add texture and colour to your water pot, fish pond or bog garden.

Clumping plant that reaches up to 60cm high.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or shallow pond up to 30cm deep.
Very hardy and strong.
Very low maintenance, remove dead/bent reeds as required.

River Club Rush

(Schoenoplectus validus)

A common native reed that you will see growing around Sydney tidal flats and river banks. Clusters of small seed heads appear on the tips of the leaves and add a gentle swaying movement to this beautiful water plant.

Clumping plant that reaches up to 150cm high.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or pond up to 30cm deep.
Very hardy and very strong.
Low maintenance, remove dead/bent reeds/seed heads as required.

African Thatching Rush

(Chrondropetalum tectorum)

A slow-growing large rush suitable for any pond or water garden. Has small brown leaf brackets along its stalks that make it look striped adding colour and interest. A highly recommended water plant.

Clumping water plant that reaches up to 150cm high.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or pond up to 20cm deep.
Very hardy and very strong.
Low maintenance, remove dead/bent reeds/seed heads as required.

Coastal Sword Rush

(Lepidosperma gladiatum)

A common Australian native rush or sedge that you will see growing around damp bush areas and river banks. Clusters of small seed heads appear in warmer weather sometimes staying on the plant for many months. The firm strappy leaves add a lovely dark green colour to your pond or water garden. A great choice for non-green-thumbs!

Clumping plant that reaches up to 50cm high.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or pond up to 20cm deep.
Very hardy and very strong.
Low maintenance, remove dead/bent reeds/seed heads as required.

Umbrella Grass

(Cyperus alternifolius)

A very popular pond plant in the water gardening world, this pretty water lover adds architectural height and movement from gently swaying umbrella-shaped leaves. Grown mainly as a foliage feature plant, small seed heads appear in the centre of the leaves in warmer months.

Clumping plant that reaches up to 150cm high.
Best in full shade but will tolerate limited sun.
Can be grown in a bog garden or fully submerged in a shallow pond up to 30cm deep.
Very hardy and strong.
Low maintenance, remove dead heads/leaves as required.

Star Grass

(Dichromena colorata)

One of our favourite little pond plants. Bright white spider-like flowers appear in abundance during warmer months. Super bright lime green leaves make this a cheery addition to any water feature or pond.

Clumping plant that reaches up to 30cm high.
Full sun.
Can be grown in a bog garden or in a pond up to 20cm deep.
Hardy plant that dies back in winter.
Low maintenance, cut back to soil level once plant dies back in winter.

Pink Rotala

(Rotala rotundifolia)

This cute little water plant has spreading soft round foliage with red stems and an abundance of small pink flowers throughout Summer. A great low growing colour addition to the edge of a pond or water feature.

Clumping plant that spreads up to 30cm in diameter.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or pond up to 20cm deep.
Low maintenance, may require light pruning to maintain desired shape.

Lotus (a must for every water garden)

(Nelumbo sp.)

You can’t get a bigger or more showy water plant than this! Also known as Sacred Lotus, these incredibly large-leaved perennial plants have huge symmetrical flowers that turn into large seed pods loved by florists. Flowers range in colour from pure white and yellow, light and dark pink to showy two-colour varieties. Please note: These heavy feeding beauties need to be kept separate to fish so we sell them in a self-contained pot for you to enjoy as a feature next to your pond.

A tuberous plant that reaches up to 150cm high.
Full sun.
Needs to be fully submerged in a self-contained pot up to 60cm deep or planted directly into a pond with NO fish.
Very hardy and very strong.
Feed every two weeks during the growing season.
Low maintenance, remove dead leaves and seed pods as required.

Louisiana Iris

(Iris sp.)

Louisiana Irises are very easy to grow. We love the huge flowers which come in variations of white, yellow, pink, red, blue, dark purple plus many two and three-colour combinations. Long strap like leaves provide height until the tall flower spike pushes up large showy blooms in spring. We think these are a must-have in any water garden or pond!

Clumping plant; dwarf up to 30cm, medium & tall up to 100cm high.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Can be grown in a bog garden or pond up to 20cm deep.
Very hardy.
Low maintenance, remove dead flower heads/leaves as required.

Duck Weed

(Lemna minor)

A top seller, this miniature aquatic plant floats freely on the surface forming a delicate bright green mat. Quick growing, this tiny plant is a great food supplement for koi and goldfish…. they just love it!

floating water plant that can double its size fortnightly in warmer months.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Provides shade across pond surface.
Adds camouflage protection for fish from bird attack.
Promotes natural water filtration.

Water Fern/Fairy Moss

(Azolla sp.)

Another top seller also known as Fairy Moss, this little fern is a small plant that floats freely on the pond surface, often forming a pretty reddish mat. Quickgrowing, young Water Fern is generally bright green, becoming pink/red/brown as the plant matures or when grown in full sun. Very high in nitrogen, this delicate floater is an excellent food supplement for koi and goldfish. Go on, treat your fish by adding some to your pond!

Floating pond plant that can double its size fortnightly in warmer months.
Full sun to semi-shade.
Provides shade across pond surface.
Adds camouflage protection for fish from bird attack.
Promotes natural water filtration.