Shady Pondside Plants
Bring life to shady pondside areas with plants supporting frogs and wildlife.
Normally Available From: 1ltr - Jan to May | 3ltr Mar to Jul
Shady areas around the outside of your pond are some of the most valuable spaces for wildlife. This is where frogs, newts and toads spend much of their time, tucked into cool, sheltered planting at the pond’s edge rather than in the water itself.
Our Shady Pondside Collection is designed for these lightly shaded borders, creating leafy cover, soft damp soil and natural hiding places that amphibians love.
With UK-grown ferns, bold hostas and colourful heucheras (from deep purples to zingy lime greens), this mix adds instant structure and interest to darker corners. Planting up the ground around your pond is one of the simplest ways to support wildlife and it beautifully frames the whole pond garden, turning it into a true amphibian haven.
🐸 Wildlife Tip:
To make your shady pondside area even more welcoming, leave a little leaf litter tucked under the plants and add a small log or stone pile. Even an old plant pot on its side creates the perfect cool hideaway for frogs and newts to shelter in.
Each pack includes a mix of UK-grown, shade-loving favourites. Exact varieties may vary with the season, as our trusted growers hand-select the strongest plants available.
Key Characteristics:
- Height 20cm to 70cm (Medium Growth).
- Spread: up to 1m
- Flower Colour: White, pink, or soft purple
- Growth Habit: A mix of spreading and clumping perennials.
- Foliage: Creates cool, sheltered cover for pondside wildlife
Additional Information:
- Position: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil at ground level
- Flowering Period:
- Hardiness: Hardy in most UK areas; tolerates -15°C to -10°C. (H5)
- UK Grown • Wildlife Shelter
Please note our dates are subject to change as conditions may mean that our plants are not quite ready for you
Your Plant At Arrival
Your garden plant collection will arrive in sturdy pots along with a care card for guidance.
Simply follow the planting instructions provided with each plant to meet its specific needs, and water them thoroughly after planting.
Perennial Pot Measurements:
1ltr - Round pot
- Height - 11.5cm
- Base - 9.5cm
- Top - 13cm
2ltr - Round pot
- Height - 13.5cm
- Base - 12.5cm
- Top - 17cm
3ltr - Round pot
- Height - 15cm
- Base - 14cm
- Top - 18.5cm
4.5ltr - Round pot
- Height - 19cm
- Base - 14cm
- Top - 17.5cm
How to Grow
- Growing Instructions:
- Growing Tips:
Care & Maintenance
- Pruning: Shade-loving plants require minimal pruning. Remove dead or damaged foliage in early spring to encourage fresh, healthy growth. Trim faded flower stalks on heucheras after blooming to maintain a neat appearance. For hostas, allow the foliage to die back naturally in autumn before cutting it to ground level. Ferns benefit from trimming away old fronds in late winter to make way for new growth.
- Pests/Diseases: Shade plants are generally hardy but may be affected by pests such as slugs, snails, and aphids. Amphibians living near your pond, including frogs and newts, act as natural pest controllers, feeding on slugs and snails and helping to maintain a balanced ecosystem. Inspect plants regularly for aphids and promote biological controls like ladybirds. Keep shaded areas well-maintained with proper spacing to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Prices
Mainland UK
Standard delivery: £6.00
Large plants (e.g., 30ltr waterlilies): pallet delivery - quote required.
Soil & gravel: additional charges apply for multiple bags.
Please email us with your postcode if a delivery price is not displaying at checkout
Highlands & Islands
Small parcels under 1.8kg: £6.00
Standard parcels over 1.8kg: £25.00
All H&I deliveries use 48-hour services
If you’re unsure about delivery costs to your postcode, please email us at.
Container Ponds
Delivery from £30 (postcode-based, please check before ordering)
Shipping to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Europe
Sorry, we are unable to ship to the above destinations.
Dispatch Schedule
Aquatic Plants
March: Monday and Thursday
April – August: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Late August to October: Monday and Thursday
October – February: Tuesday only
Aquatic plants are dispatched all year round, though frequency reduces during low season.
Garden Plants
Dispatched all year round - Tuesday & Thursday
Are plants dispatched the same day as ordering?
No. Live plants require draining and careful preparation. The nurseries dispatch in scheduled batches rather than on-demand. This means same-day dispatch isn’t possible, but we always aim to send your order as promptly as we can within our dispatch schedule.
If you’d like to check when your order is likely to arrive, just email us and we’ll be happy to advise.
Delivery and Couriers
We use trusted UK couriers:
APC and Royal Mail for pond plants
DX for garden plants
Pallet deliveries for 30ltr waterlilies, large landscape orders and container ponds
Delivery Times
APC and DX orders are sent on overnight services but may take up to 48 hours depending on your local depot.
Royal Mail parcels usually arrive within 24–48 hours.
Plants are packed in damp soil and remain safe in transit for several days.
Tracking and Safe Place Instructions
Your dispatch email will contain tracking information where applicable.
Couriers are instructed to leave parcels in a safe place with no signature required. You can add your own delivery notes using the links below. We recommend requesting a cool, shaded spot so the plants stay fresh on arrival.
APC - https://apcchoice.apc-overnight.com/
Royal Mail - will use your email and mobile number provided during ordering to send delivery updates and enable you to add safe-place instructions.
Please do not delay delivery of live plants.
Royal Mail will never ask you to make an additional payment for a delivery. If you receive a message requesting payment, please delete it and do not click any links. If you are unsure whether a message is genuine, email us and we’ll be happy to advise
Damages & Returns
If your order arrives damaged, please take photos of the packaging and plants and email us with your PFP order number.
Due to bio-security and the perishable nature of plants, we cannot accept returns of plants or molluscs.
Container ponds are handmade to order and non-returnable unless damaged.
For full details, please see our returns policy
Need Help?
If you have any questions about delivery or dispatch times, please email us
Pondside planting
Plants Delivered with Care Across the UK
Based in Hertfordshire, we ship plants across the UK, ensuring they reach you in tip-top condition to enhance your pond with vibrant, healthy greenery. Supporting a small, local business like ours means getting a personal touch – no big teams, no call centres, just real, knowledgeable help from people who care.
