Floating Pond Plants

Do I need floating plants?

Floating plants are a simple, no-planting option to add instant cover and support a healthy pond. Just place them on the surface and they’ll begin shading the water and taking up nutrients straight away.

We suggest aiming for roughly 60–75% surface cover in summer. You don’t need to be exact - it’s simply a helpful guide. That level is usually reached with a mix of waterlilies, deep-water plants and a few floaters. In a larger pond you may not reach it straight away, but as plants grow and spread through the season you’ll naturally get there, helping keep the water cool, shaded and wildlife-friendly. Floating plants play an important part in this by adding immediate cover and absorbing nutrients directly from the water.

Hardy UK natives such as Frogbit and Water Soldier are excellent for wildlife ponds, while other varieties like Water Lettuce and Water Poppy offer fast summer shade (but will die off once temperatures drop). All floating plants are supplied loose - just pop them on the surface and let them get to work.