Have a look at the Best Plants for a Koi Pond that will surely add visual appeal and drama to the little ecosystem in your home garden!
Adding some Koi Pond Plants can be a great option to enhance the appearance of your garden. The right plants can provide shade, oxygen, and natural filtration, while also creating a more natural and appealing environment for your fish.
When selecting plants for your koi pond, it’s important to choose species that are well-suited to the aquatic environment and won’t harm your fish. The best way is to look for specimens that have a tolerance for partial to full sun exposure, can handle water fluctuations, and have non-invasive root systems.
Check out 21 DIY Water Pond Ideas here
Best Plants for a Koi Pond
1. Mosaic Plant
Botanical Name: Ludwigia sedoides
Mosaic is a unique aquatic plant that perfect for Koi ponds. Its leaves grow in a mosaic pattern, with alternating sections of green and maroon.
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2. Sweet Flag
Botanical Name: Acorus calamus
Sweet Flag is one of the best Plants for a Koi Pond, which is known for its distinctive, sword-shaped leaves that add texture and visual interest to the pond.
3. Water Soldier
Botanical Name: Stratiotes aloides
Water Soldier is a floating plant that offers a rosette of stiff leaves that float on the surface of the water. This Plant for a Koi Pond also helps to control algae growth.
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4. Elephant Ear
Botanical Name: Colocasia esculenta
Elephant Ear is one of the best Plants for a Koi Pond thanks to its large, dramatic leaves and tropical appearance. It requires warm water and plenty of dappled sunlight to thrive.
Check Out Our Elephant Ear Care Guide here
5. Watercress
Botanical Name: Nasturtium officinale
Watercress is a great Plant for a Koi Pond and is also edible, with a peppery flavor and can be a healthy addition to salads or other dishes.
6. Pickerelweed
Botanical Name: Pontederia cordata
Pickerel is a hardy and versatile plant, thanks to its attractive foliage and ability to control algae growth. It does best in dappled light.
7. Dwarf Papyrus
Botanical Name: Cyperus alternifolius
Dwarf Papyrus is a striking plant that can add a touch of exotic beauty to a Koi pond. The plant is popular for its tall, thin stems and distinctive umbrella-like clusters of leaves.
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8. Iris
Botanical Name: Iris hexagona
This is a classic pond plant with stunning flowers and attractive foliage. It has long, sword-like leaves that add texture and visual interest to the koi pond.
9. Lotus
Botanical Name: Nelumbo nucifera
Another best Koi Pond Plant popular for its stunning beauty and exotic appearance is the lotus. It has large leaves and produces dramatic blooms in shades of pink, red, and white.
10. Water Poppies
Botanical Name: Hydrocleys nymphoides
These are floating plants with round leaves that resemble small water lilies. They have white or yellow flowers that bloom in the summer.
11. Fiber Optic Grass
Botanical Name: Isolepis cernua
Fiber Optic Grass is a unique plant with thin, hair-like leaves that resemble fiber optic strands. It grows in clumps and has small brown flowers that bloom in the summer.
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12. Duckweed
Botanical Name: Lemna minor
Duckweed is a small, floating plant that can be found in almost any water source. It has small, oval-shaped leaves that are about the size of a fingernail.
13. Creeping Jenny
Botanical Name: Lysimachia nummularia
It is a ground-covering plant that can be grown in shallow water or along the edge of a pond, making it one of the best Koi Pond Plants.
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14. Eelgrass
Botanical Name:
This is an underwater plant that is perfect for adding vertical interest to the koi pond. It has long, thin leaves that can grow up to three feet tall.
15. Water Hyacinth
Botanical Name: Eichhornia crassipes
Water Hyacinth is a floating aquatic plant with beautiful lavender-blue flowers that look stunning in koi ponds. It is one of the best Koi Pond Plants you can grow.
16. Water Lilies
Botanical Name: Nymphaeaceae
Water Lilies are iconic aquatic plants that grace the surface of koi ponds with their beautiful and vibrant colors. These plants have large, round leaves that float on the water’s surface.
17. Horsetail
Botanical Name: Equisetum
It grows tall and slender, which also makes it easy to maintain. These plants have a unique, bamboo-like appearance and grow best in shallow areas of the pond.
18. Water Lettuce
Botanical Name: Pistia stratiotes
Water Lettuce is a floating plant that resembles miniature lettuce. These plants have small, light-green leaves that float on the water’s surface and form a dense mat.
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19. Fanwort
Botanical Name: Cabomba
Fanwort is an aquatic specimen that is quite easy to grow. It has feathery, green leaves and produces white flowers in the summer.
20. American Waterweed
Botanical Name: Elodea canadensis
This submerged plant has dark green, narrow leaves that grow in whorls along its stem. American Waterweed is a fast-growing specimen and one of the best Koi Pond Plants.
21. Water Purslane
Botanical Name: Ludwigia palustris
Water Purslane is a floating plant with small, round leaves that are green or red in color. It adds a pop of color to the pond and helps to filter the water by absorbing excess nutrients.
22. Amazon Sword
Botanical Name: Echinodorus grisebachii
Amazon Sword is a popular plant for koi ponds because it adds a lush, tropical feel to the environment. It has long, green leaves that grow in a rosette pattern.
23. Tiger Lotus
Botanical Name: Nymphaea lotus
Tiger Lotus is a beautiful plant for a Koi Pond with unique red and green leaves. It grows well in koi ponds and provides a striking contrast to other green plants.
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24. Coontail
Botanical Name: Ceratophyllum demersum
Coontail is a submerged plant that has fine, feathery leaves that look similar to a raccoon’s tail. It can help to control algae growth in the pond by absorbing excess nutrients.
25. Dwarf Egyptian Papyrus
Botanical Name: Cyperus prolifer
Dwarf Egyptian Papyrus is a small version of the popular papyrus and is one of the best Plants for a Koi Pond. It has thin stems that hold up small, tuft-like heads of foliage.
