Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Thursday - June 03, 2010
From: Versailles, MO
Region: Midwest
Topic: Water Gardens
Title: Plants for edge of a field pond in Missouri
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a 25ft x 50ft field pond in Versailles, MO. What do you suggest for the water's edge plantings so that we might fish over them. Weed eating is eating ME up!ANSWER:
I am supposing you could tolerate plants that are knee high or less, am I right? So, here are some that could work. You are going to have to remove the tall ones that are already there, of course, since they are going to keep on getting high requiring you to apply the weedeater. All of these plants grow well in wet soils and are native to Missouri.
Caltha palustris (yellow marsh marigold) grows 1 to 2 feet high in shade and part shade.
Enemion biternatum (eastern false rue anemone) grows 8 to 16 inches in shade and part shade.
Gentiana andrewsii (closed bottle gentian) grows 1 to 2 feet high in shade and part shade.
Iris brevicaulis (zigzag iris) grows 1 to 2 feet high in shade, part shade and sun.
Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) grows 6 to 14 inches in shade and part shade.
Sisyrinchium angustifolium (narrowleaf blue-eyed grass) grows up to 18 inches in sun and part shade.
Carex amphibola (eastern narrowleaf sedge) grows 8 to 12 inches in shade or part shade. Here is a photo.
Plants that can find plenty of water tend to grow rather tall but you can find more plants that will work at the edge of your pond by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database and selecting Missouri from the Select State or Province option, 'Herb' from Habit (general appearance and 'Wet...' from Soil moisture.
Here photos from our Image Gallery:
More Water Gardens Questions
Native plants for water garden in Garland, TX
June 13, 2006 - Hello, I was interested in creating a water garden-koi pond in the landscaping and was interested to know what plants you would suggest for this usage that would be perennial? Furthermore I was intere...
view the full question and answer
Erosion prevention on shady Pennsylvania stream
July 28, 2011 - I'm looking for a few species to plant along a stream channel to help reduce erosion during heavy rains. The soil is moist and in full shade. Ferns and thorny bushes are the only current vegetation...
view the full question and answer
Wildflowers for a pond in MO
September 10, 2011 - I have a spring fed pond in Missouri and would like to plant perennial wildflowers in the area around it. Are there any that would do better or others that are not recommended?
Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Planting instructions for horsetail
March 10, 2009 - Re: Equisetum hyemale L.
Canuela, Horsetail, Scouring rush, Scouringrush horsetail
I bought a 1-gal Equisetum hyemale for my seep/pond. In searching the web, I find conflicting planting instructions...
view the full question and answer
BEST plants for keeping water clean
February 19, 2005 - We're in the process of building a small swimming pool that will utilize Texas native bog and marginal plants to clean the water for the pool. Do you know of some good resources (i.e. online, books, b...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
