7 Pond Plants That Will Survive Winter (In The UK)
There are many plants that you can have in your pond that will survive even the harshest of winters. This article will explore our top 7 pond plants that are highly recommended. These are:
Plant 1 – Coneflower
Coneflowers are known scientifically by the name Echinacea. The coneflower is usually native to America but can be found in other countries. This is a tough and hardy flowering plant that can tolerate droughts well.
The coneflower grows best when planted in full sunlight so make sure you carefully select where you place this plant around your pond. You will find this plant is hardy to zone 3-9. These plants need a fair amount of room as in their peak they can grow up to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
This plant will lose its flowers during the winter, but this does not mean it is dead. In the spring the flower will enter full bloom again, but this is only if it is properly cared for during offseason. During later autumn or early winter, it is best to trim the dead stems and stabilise the plant with 1-2 inches of mulch, this acts as protection.
You can find coneflowers in a variety of colours from purple, pink, yellow, orange, red or even white. Most of these flowers are hardy enough to tolerate the cold, although you should check the label before you buy. Some hybrid forms of this plant will not tolerate the cold weather however.
Plant 2 – Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley is another plant that you should consider having in your pond that can survive winter. This plant is known scientifically as convallaria majalis. Although this plant may look delicate, it is in fact a very hardy plant.
The plant can survive in shade, which makes this a great plant for the spots in your garden that does not always get a lot of sun. Also, this plant is actually poisonous, so it is a great plant to have if you want to stop wildlife eating your the plants around your pond.
You will usually see the Lily of the Valley with white flowers but can also be seen with pink blooms. It is also formed with dark green leaves and white stripes. This flower is usually found in the Northeast or Midwest regions. However, in these regions Lily of the valley can spread aggressively so you need to check this before planting in your pond.
As this flower can tolerate the shade, it makes it a great winter plant when sunshine might be sparse. It can grow up to 1 foot tall and wide. It is hardy to zones 3-8.
Plant 3 – Catmint
Catmint is the third recommended plant that you should have in your pond that will survive the winter. This is known scientifically by the name of nepeta. Catmint is known for its purple colouring which smells similar to lavender but is a much hardier version.
This is a great winter plant as it tolerates partial sun, drought, and poor soil condition. This plant is also resistant to deer, so you do not have to worry about it getting eaten by wildlife. This is a durable plant and to get the maximum out of the plant you should shear back the plants after the first wave of flowers in the spring. You should then get a second wave of flowers in late summer.
Also, it is important that when autumn hits, you should clip back the plants. This is so when they grow back in the spring they are fresh. Also, by cutting back the plants, if you get snow during the winter then it can fall onto the crown of the plant. This can help to insulate and protect the plants in the winter.
Catmint is a decent sized plant that should have access to sun as much as possible, but it can tolerate partial shade. It can grow up to 30 inches tall and 36 inches wide. Also, this plant is hardy to zone 4-8.
Plant 4 – Coral Bells
Coral bells are another trusty plant that should be able to survive winters. These plants are known scientifically as heucheras. Coral bells are known for the variety of colours that they come in. They could be purple, green, yellow, orange, red, or even multicoloured.
During the early summer, these flowers actually have spikes of pink or white bell-shaped flowers. However, as winter starts you should ensure that your coral bells are planted into the ground if they are in containers.
This plant grows best if it is in the full sun, however it can tolerate partial shade. So, it is best to ensure you plant it around the pond where you get the most sun. Coral bells can grow up to 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Also, you will find this plant is hardy to zone 3-8.
Plant 5 – Hostas
Hostas are also another hardy pond plant that can survive during the winter. Although you should not expose their roots to frost, so they need to be covered with mulch. Because of the plants large surface area, it can easily get dehydrated, therefore having the roots in mulch helps to retain the moisture.
Other than the mulch, hostas do not need much protection at all, making this a strong winter plant. They can also grow in the shade making it great for winter when there is not always much sun. Therefore, this plant can continue to grow bigger and better every year.
Hostas can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours which is great to be able to mix and match with other plants that you may already have in your garden. There are some plants that hostas make great companions with. These could be astilbe, deadnettle, barrenworts, coral bells, and bleeding hearts.
This plant can grow up to 18 inches tall and 30 inches wide. It is also hardy to zone 3-8. If you want a plant that does not require much maintenance, then this is the plant you should consider.
Plant 6 – Pansies
Pansies are the penultimate winter plant that we recommend for your garden pond. It can come in a range of colours from purple, white, red, blue, and yellow.
Pansies are able to live in a surprisingly low temperatures but there are some things you need to do to ensure that they can survive. It is important to ensure that you are protecting the pansies from winter and frost. For example, covering them up with mulch or pine straw gives these plants the best chance of survival.
This plant is always thirsty, therefore adding the protection during the winter months can also stop strong winds from harming the flowers and causing them to become dehydrated. Pansies are hardy to zone 4.
Plant 7 – Winterberries
The last plant that we recommend for you pond during the winter months are winterberries. The name sort of gives it away but they are iconic plants for the winter.
These plants are commonly planted in autumn ready for the winter ahead. They do like to be fully in sun, so you need to consider this when choosing where to plant them around your pond.
Winterberries are very colourful and will therefore add a sense of aesthetics to your pond. During winter, the garden can look bare, but by adding winterberries can help to bring some colour and sense of joy to you pond. These plants are hardy to zone 2, meaning that they can withstand very low temperatures.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are a vast number of plants that you can have in your pond that can withstand and survive the harshness of winter. This article explored the top recommended pond plants for the winter, but this is not an exhaustive list. There are of course many other plants that can be planted and survive during the winter.
The winter plants mentioned range in hardiness from zone 2-8. This is something that you will need to check before planting as this determines how low in temperature the plants can handle. Having plants that are specifically suited to winter will allow you to have colourful plants in your pond all year round.