11 Shade Loving Pond Plants for a Small Pond

Creating your own pond is a great way to bring a tranquil vibe to your small outdoor space. Usually at least some, partial sunlight is recommended for ponds. However, you can still enjoy the serenity of water in a garden that receives more shade than sun. As long as you know which plants to choose!

Can a garden pond be fully shaded?

Technically yes. The shade-loving plants below can handle shady pond habitats, but dappled sunlight or sun for at least 3-4 hours a day is recommended. However if you’re choosing an area in 100% shade throughout the year, there are measures you should take to keep fish, wildlife, and plants happy.

Even if the sunlight hits the pond for a few hours a day, it can make a big difference. And plants are more likely to flower!

Pros and cons of a shady pond

One great shady pond benefit is that algae are less likely to take over. As they multiply quickly in the full summer sun, they’ll be much less of a problem in a shady space. Other fast-growing pond plants will be stunted in growth, which means less cutting back.

However, like almost all plant and animal life, living things need a good amount of sunlight to thrive. You’ll be a bit more limited when it comes to choosing plants. But there are some fantastic species that are more shade-tolerant.

Which shade loving pond plants should I choose?

The following plants are fantastic shade tolerant pond plants that will help you create a flourishing pond in a shady spot — from marginal plants to floating plants.

1. Rodgersia – Marginal Plant

A fantastic marginal plant for a shady pond. Rodgersia thrives in shady, moist conditions. In summer it will produce pretty spires of pink or white flowers. It may flower less in a heavily shaded spot, but the foliage is just as ornamantel and lovely.

Our favorite Rodgersia plants: Rodgersia aesculifolia and Rodgersia pinnata ‘Buckland Beauty’.

2. Hostas – Marginal Plant

Well known for their luscious, ornamental leaves, Hostas thrive in shady, moisture-rich conditions. Their low-growing, dense foliage can add textural interest and help to create a lovely layered look next to your small pond.

Our favorite Hosta varieties:

• Shade fanfare (Bright green with yellow edges)
• First Frost (Dark green with white ‘frosted’ edges)
• Blue Mouse Ears (A beautiful soft, dusty blue)

3. Lily of the Valley – Marginal Plant

A hardy little perennial that thrives in shady conditions. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) bears pretty clusters of bell-shaped flowers in spring and summer. It’s a wonderful low-growing plant to place near a small pond in dappled shade.

4. Ferns – Marginal Plant

One of the ultimate shade-loving pond plants. Well-known for their love of shady, moisture-rich habitats, ferns are incredibly diverse, with species found all over the World. They’re a perfect marginal plant for a small pond in a shady spot.

Our favorite shade-loving ferns: Ostrich ferns and Hart’s Tongue ferns.

5. Marsh marigolds – Marginal Plant

Marsh marigolds (Caltha palustris) will produce beautiful, yellow flowers from March to June. Related to the buttercup, this cheerful plant can provide a vibrant spot of color at the edges of your pond. They grow well in the shade.

6. Astilbe – Marginal Plant

Astilbe is a beautiful, upright plant with plumes of feathery flowers. You can find the flowers in shades of pink, red, or white, and the foliage in bright green or bronze.

It thrives in moist areas, especially at pond edges, and is a hardy, shade tolerant plant.

7. Water sprite – Oxygenator

A fantastic oxygenator, water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides), is a deep-water pond plant with delicate, fern-like leaves. Without much sunlight, it will grow slowly, but it will still help to provide vital oxygen to the water.

8. Hornwort – Oxygenator

Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is hardier than water sprite making it an excellent choice for shady ponds in more temperate climates. Another fantastic oxygenator, hornwort will spread slowly in heavily shaded ponds.

9. Water Lilies – Floating plant

Most water lilies need lots of sunlight to thrive, but there are some beautiful species that will tolerate shadier spaces. These species can tolerate shade, but they need at least 4 hours of sunlight each day to bloom. They may produce fewer flowers and more leaves, so make sure to trim excess leaves away to stop them from blocking all light into the pond.

Our favorite shade-tolerant water lily varieties:

• Red water lily ‘James Brydon’
• Yellow water lily ‘Texas Dawn’
• Pink/peach water lily ‘Colorado’

10. Fairy moss – Floating plant

Also known as ‘mosquito fern’ as it can grow in such dense mats that mosquitos can’t lay eggs. Definitely an attractive quality! Fairy moss (Azolla) thrives in sunnier spots, but it can also tolerate a few hours of sunlight. Its delicate foliage looks wonderful in small ponds.

Cautions: In some areas, it’s labeled as an invasive plant so it must be avoided if you live close to lakes or rivers where it could enter local ecosystems.

11. Water clover – Floating plant

Water clover (Marsilea vestita/quadrifolia) is often thought of as a sun-loving plant. However, it can grow well in full shade. In the shade, water clover tends to grow much slower, making it an easier plant for you to maintain.

Looking for more plant inspiration for your shady space? How about trying some tasty shade tolerant vegetables that grow well in limited sunlight?

Featured Image: A shady pond surrounded by ferns | Photo by Ho Truong