6 Tall Pond Plants

If you’re looking to add some height and interest to your pond, then consider adding some tall pond plants.

There are many different types of plants that can grow in a pond, and some of them can reach impressive heights.

In this article I’ll discuss six tall pond plants that will make a statement in your garden pond.

Some of these plants are marginal plants, which means they grow best around the outer edge of the pond, while others can be planted directly in the pond.

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tall pond plants

5 TALL POND PLANTS

1. Cattail (Typha latifolia)

Cattails are tall plants with long, tube-like leaves that can reach heights of up to 8 feet (2.4 metres).

They grow best in full sun, in marginal areas of the pond and you’ll probably see them looking their best around spring and summer in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 10.

Cattails reproduce by underground rhizomes as well as seed, so be sure to remove the seed heads before they fall if you don’t want them to spread.

Cattails are great for creating dramatic focal points around your pond.

Pond plants

2. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Cardinal flowers are tall plants with beautiful red flowers and they grow well around the edge of a pond.

They’re suitable for partial shade or full sun and can reach heights of 3 to 4 feet (90 to 120 cm).

Cardinal flowers only live for about 3 to 4 years but they self-seed easily so you’ll have lots of new plants growing around the pond area.

Cardinal flower

3. Umbrella Palm (Cyperus alternifolius)

Umbrella palms are tall plants with an umbrella-shaped canopy of foliage that is great for providing shade to your pond.

The umbrella palm is one of the tallest pond plants you can pick since it can grow up to 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 metres) tall.

You can also find dwarf or medium sized varieties for smaller ponds.

Umbrella palms are winter hardy in USDA zones 8 and above and they can tolerate full sun or partial shade. [1]

umbrella palm in pond

4. Japanese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Japanese silver grass is a tall deciduous grass that can reach heights of up to 8 feet (2.4 metres).

It has beautiful variegated leaves and blooms in late summer to fall with reddish tinged flower heads.

Japanese silver grass is great for providing visual interest and habitat for wildlife.

japanese silver grass

5. Taro (Colocasia esculenta)

Taro, also called Elephant’s Ear, is a tall plant with large, heart-shaped green leaves that will give your pond a tropical feel.

They can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 metres) tall and you can plant them at the edge of your pond, but the leaves need to stay above the water level.

Taro plants are best suited to USDA zones 9 to 11, but they can be grown in cooler climates if they’re overwintered indoors.

Taro plants

6. Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)

Pickerel weed is a tall plant that is ideal for planting around the edge of your pond.

It grows well in moisture soaked soil and can also tolerate standing water.

Pickerel plants can grow up to 4 feet (1.2 metres) tall and they have long lasting spiky purple flowers.

Pickerel plant

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So there are 6 beautiful tall plants for your backyard pond.

These plants are great for providing shade and habitat for wildlife and they add an extra level of interest to your water garden. 

Do you have any tall plants growing in or around your garden pond? Let me know in the comments below.

Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Garden Ponds and Pond Plants that you may find interesting.

tall plants in a pond

Kelly Martin

Hi, I'm Kelly Martin, a landscape gardener with a special interest in ponds and water gardens. For over a decade, I've been designing and creating beautiful gardens that feature stunning water features, from small garden ponds to large water gardens. Read more