With riparian plants, your garden pond is designed to be as natural as possible and as a hobby gardener you have a lot of leeway when choosing ideal plants. The best effect is to divide the bank into different wet areas, which allows the planting to grow in a species-appropriate manner.
Choosing a hardy bank plant saves you work
Due to the different location requirements of the plants, the bank area is divided into three zones depending on the actual pond size, which are cleverly designed and contribute to a pleasantly harmonious overall look. The following bank structure is advantageous for the overall environment and biological balance:
- wet marsh plant zone with mixed water depth between zero to ten centimeters as possibly only at certain times of the day/season soaked to submerged zone;
- Area for plants that visually enhance the edge of the pond, secure it mechanically and protect other species from excessive solar radiation;
- Background area without direct contact with the pond water, which serves as a windbreak and at the same time is used as a retreat for the animals living in the pond;
The range of suitable plants is extremely rich, the most popular for you in a short portrait:
Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
- Family: loosestrife family (Europe and Asia on lake, pond and river banks);
- growth height: 50 to 150 cm;
- Description: crimson to fuchsia red flower spikes similar to a candle between June and September;
- Culture: hardy, full sun to partial shade, thrives in moist to wet soil and in water up to 10 cm deep; nearly pest and disease resistant;
Common jester flower (Mimulus guttatus)
- Family: Pharyngeal family from western North America, native of moist soil or shallow water;
- growth height: between 30 to 50 cm;
- Description: creeping rootstock with light green leaves and yellow, strong flowers;
- Culture: tolerates cold, sunny locations are preferred, otherwise also semi-shade, well suited to banks and damp swamp zones where temporary flooding is also possible; less sensitive but pronounced self-overgrowth;
Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris)
- Family: Ranunculaceae (northern hemisphere up to an altitude of over 2000 m on swampy meadows and stream banks);
- growth height: 20 to 40 cm;
- Description: heart-shaped, dark green leaves with shiny golden yellow cup-shaped flowers that reach a diameter of 3 to 4 cm between March and April;
- Culture: extremely hardy; Location sunny to semi-shady on waterlogged soil or a few centimeters deep water; Soil should be as permeable as possible and rich in nutrients; strong heat can lead to powdery mildew, sensitive to aphid infestation;
tips
They don't take offense very much and have only low demands on the soil conditions. But with riparian plants in the garden pond and directly next to it, the density of the young plants should not be exaggerated when they are planted. In the interest of biodiversity, large boulders can be used excellently as shade providers, so that less sun-loving plants can also be used in the bank area.