Here is a list of 20 water garden and pondside plants that you can feel safe planting in or around your water garden. It was compiled by Justin Campbell, ACNP and although it is a list of plants that thrive in the heat of Arizona, you may find that many will thrive in the climate where you live.

Happy "plantscaping!"

1.  Arundo donax - Giant reed: This is a bamboo-like plant that thrives in our climate, 6' to 20' tall untrimmed. Giant reed creates a tropical screen or tall accent, needs to be controlled. May be hard to find in nurseries.

2.  Asparagus dens. "myers," "sprengers," plumosus," "pyramidalis," "retrofractus" asparagus ferns have widely varying textures, from lacy "pyra" to tree-like "retro," easy to maintain, well suited to "plant pocket" locations. Mix the varieties up for a natural effect.

3.  Bambusa - bamboo: Many different types propogated, rarely a good selection at any one nursery. Clumping varieties - Alphonse Karr, Punting pole, Buddha belly, and Giant timber are good ones to find, although all bamboo have their place in the landscape. May look poor in summer with inadequate irrigation.

4.  Canna - Canna lily: Dwarf to 3' to 4' tall, others to 6' tall, bright seasonal flowers in many colors. Tropical foliage and a proven plant for our climate. Most effective in clusters of three or more. Cut to ground once a year.

5.  Cuphea hyssopifolia - False Mexican heather: low mounding shrub easily kept to 6" to 10" high. Effective as a liner screen at water garden edge. Can be 2' wide. Pretty, teensy, purple flowers can add the right amount of color at waters edge without distracting. Lush, green and sturdy.

6.  Cyperus alternifolius, papyrus - Umbrella grass and Papyrus: Popular pond plant that needs no other mention here other than, "Get them," and watch out for aphids during springtime. Papyrus more popular and more difficult to find.

7.  Dietes iridoides, bicolor - Fortnight lily and African iris: Common grass-like flowering perennials with fat and thin blades, respectively. Although they will brown in full sun in June and July, they are tough and heavy bloomers. Responds well to fertilizing and extra water in summer. Needs adequate drainage (not a "plant pocket" choice).

8.  Drosanthemum speciosum, rosea - Dew drop iceplant: Not to be confused with the fleshy groundcovers of California, this is a sturdy, dense groundcover similar to the summer annual portulaca in texture. The pink or yellow flowers are so dense the foliage is unseen during the bloom period. Neglect, indifferent watering and general abuse are fertilizer to this plant. Prune back severely every three to five years.

9.  Dyssodia - Golden fleece or dahlberg daisy: Annual or tender perennial that loves sandy soils (pond's edge!), golden flowers and ferny foliage that loves summer in and around the Phoenix area. Let establish, then fertilize lightly every month or so.

10.  Equisetum hymale - Horsetail reed: A popular water garden plant that seems to need a bribe or something to get it to take. Many times I have tried, all failed. I know people who know people who have had success in the Phoenix area with these plants. I think they prefer a damp, rather than soggy soil.

11.  Liriope - lily turf: Good short grass to edge a water garden pond. Dark green 1' tall at most, deep blue flower spikes and green all year. In bunches, can hang to edge of water. Lots of open sun will fry this one in the summertime. Start in the fall for best results.

12.  Lysimachia nummilaria - Creeping jenny: A strong groundcover that roots in sand, rock, water or any combination in between. Tiny white flowers in clusters reminiscent of myoporum, hard to find, hard to kill. Really attractive alternative edge for a water garden.

13.  Muhlenbergia rigens, cappilaris, dumose - Dear grass, Regal mist grass and bamboo muhly: All are low water use grasses, the dumosa having the height and reediness that might make it popular with pondscapers. These need no extra water, work or fertilizer. Excellent transition plants for the landscape.

14.  Ophiopogon japonicus: Mondo grass: Dark green clumping grass usually in the foreground of a stream or reflecting pool. Easy to find and care for. Likes adequate drainage and extra summer watering.

15.  Phormium tenax - New Zealand flax: Popular tropical reedy grass type plant. The "Dazzler" cultivar is pretty, like drainage, part shade and a spot that it can show off. Nice in rock gardens or in boulder falls.

16.  Ruellia brittoniana - Large-leaf ruellia: Versatile, low maintenance shrub as at home in desert landscapes as it is in the bottom of your water garden. Blooms pink, blue or white. It has a nice, reedy appearance, turning from green to reddish in the winter. Can reseed freely if not checked. An excellent plant to add to your landscape.

17.  Santolina chamaecyparissus, virens - Lavender cotton: Low mounding grey-leaved shrub with a lovely scented leaf. Can take shaping and flowers on a short spike are yellow. A good border plant, virens sim to cham, but with green foliage.

18.  Vinca - Ground myrtle major and minor: Common reliable trailing groundcover that has periwinkle blue flowers. "Minor" bears the smaller leaf but both have the remarkable trait of surviving the Phoenix area summer heat. Best used under shaded spots. Cut back severely every 3 to 5 years.

19.  Wedilia trilobata - Wedelia: Trailing groundcover with yellow flowers, roots along the stem, tolorates heat and makes a lush green coverage very quickly. Will freeze back hard if frosted, but recovers quickly. As useful and beautiful in Arizona as it is in Hawaii where it is also popular.

20.  Zephyranthes - Zephry flower or rain lily: Tough little grassy bulb with a rolled or slightly rolled leaf. Red, yellow, white and pink star-shaped flowers emerge during our summer monsoons. May be planted anywhere in the landscape, but seldom reaches more than 1' tall. Underused xeriscape plant. Many hybrids available in inexpensive bulb form.

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