Tall Shallow Water Plants

The Water Garden sells a full range of aquatic plants in our Chattanooga store. This page is presented for informational purposes.

1-Black Magic Taro

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Colocasia esculenta

Hardy zones 9-11 [See Map]
Growing height: 3-6'.
Planting depth: Top of the pot should be 0-6" below the water surface.
Thrives in partial shade to shade.
Large purplish-black leaves on black stems.
Also known as: Aquatic Elephant Ear.

2-Canna (Red Longwood Hybrid)

Canna longwood hybrids

Hardy zones 6 - 11 [See Map]
Growing height: 4-5'.
Planting depth: Top of the pot should be 0-8" below the water surface.
Red flowers in summer.
Thrives in full sun.
This relative of the popular terrestrial plant makes a nice addition to a water garden.

This tropical marginal plant boasts green foliage with brilliant red flowers. One of the few true water loving cannas, along with the other Longwood canna hybrids, this is an excellent variety for the pond. Canna glauca 'Endeavor' is an eye catching water garden plant from quite a distance. Great for use as a background plant where taller growth is necessary. Red flowers can be seen all summer long.

Common Name:Canna Endeavor

Scientific Name:Canna glauca 'Endeavor'

Flower Color:Red

Leaf Color:Green

Height:4 feet

Hardiness Zone:8 - 11

Native To:Hybrid

Available As:2" or 4" pot

3-Canna, Hardy
Thalia dealbata
Hardy zones 5 - 11 [See Map]
Growing height: 5-6'.
Planting depth: Top of the pot should be 0-10" below water surface.
Thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Eliptical leaves up to 18" long
Small clusters of violet flowers are held high above the foliage in summer. Prolific Bloomer.
Also known as: Powdery Thalia.
Native to Southeastern United States

Culture

Grow in wet soils or in shallow water in full sun. Best in organically rich loams. Plants are considered winter hardy to USDA Zones 6-10. In St. Louis, plants are best grown in containers either sunk in wet mud near the water line or submerged in up to 2’ of water. Plants may also be grown in wet boggy areas. Containers covered by 18-24” of water will generally overwinter in place. Consider bringing other containers indoors to a greenhouse or other frost-free area with bright light. For plants grown in wet boggy soils, cut back tops and mulch heavily in winter.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Thalia dealbata, commonly called hardy water canna or powdery thalia, is a rhizomatous marsh or marginal aquatic perennial that features long-stalked canna like foliage and violet blue flowers. It is a tall plant (to 6-10’) that lends a tropical flavor to ponds and water gardens. It is native to swamps and ponds from South Carolina to Florida west to Missouri and Texas. It is rare to Missouri, its distribution being limited to swampy areas in the southeastern lowlands region. Features paddle-shaped to lanceolate-elliptic blue-green canna-like leaves (to 18” long) on petioles to 24” long. Foliage is dusted with white powder. Violet flowers appear in branched open panicles (to 8” long) atop scapes typically rising well above the foliage to 6’ (less frequently to 10’) tall. Blooms July and August.
Genus name honors Johannes Thal (1542-1583), German physician.
Specific epithet means whitened or covered with a white powder.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Margins of ponds, pools and large water gardens. Bog gardens.

Common Name: thalia

Type: Herbaceous perennial

Family: Marantaceae

Native Range: Southern United States, Mexico

Zone: 6 to 10

Height: 6.00 to 10.00 feet

Spread: 3.00 to 6.00 feet

Bloom Time: July to August

Bloom Description: Violet

Sun: Full sun

Water: Wet

Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Annual, Water Plant, Rain Garden

Flower: Showy

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4-Orange Variegated Canna
Canna americanallis variegata

Hardy zones 7 - 11 [See Map]
Growing height: 3-6'.
Planting depth: Top of the pot should be 0-6" below the water surface.
Thrives in full sun.
Orange flowers in Summer.
Long leaves variegated with yellow and green.

The Orange King Humbert Canna, also known as Variegated Water Canna and the Bengal Tiger Canna is a tropical Bog Plant. Water cannas strongly resemble the land canna varieties. The large, dramatic, tropical yellow and green striped foliage of the Orange King Humbert resemble the leaves of a banana tree. Stunningly beautiful, bold, bright orange flowers with brilliant maroon edges bloom in summer.

Cannas are best grown in full sun and in rich, fertile soil. The Orange King Humbert can get as tall as 60" and may have a spread of 36". Pot in 5-gallon containers and set in water 6 inches over crowns in sun to part shade. Remove from the pond in the autumn and maintain as tropical houseplants until spring. Rhizomes can also be housed free of soil, dried, and stored in a cool, dark area as is done with land canna. Zones 9-11.

Approximate Purchase Size: 12" to 18"

Bengal Tiger Canna (Canna americanallis variegata)

- Green foliage with gold striping is accented by tall clusters orange flowers, making Bengal Tiger Canna a stunning addition to water gardens or flower beds.

- Hardiness Zone: 8-11
- Planting Container: We recommend a 10 x 6 solid planting container or a Large Laguna - - - Planting Bag. Can also be planted directly in ground outside of pond (Make sure to keep well watered.).
- Light Requirements: full sun to part shade
- Height: 4'-6'
- Spread: Medium/Large Spread
- Water Depth: Moist soil or water depth up to 4" (Max depth for mature plants)

Variegated Cattails have creamy white and green vertical striped foliage. An attractive pond plant to add to the water garden. Grows to about 5'. Plant in a large container for best results.

Variegated Cattail (Typha latifolia variegata)
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Height: 5'-6'
Water Depth: Moist soil or water to 12" deep
Hardiness Zone: 4-11

5- Swamp Hibiscus :
Hibiscus coccineus

Hardy zones 7 - 9 [See Map]
Growing height: 5-8'.
Planting depth: Top of the pot should be 0-3" below the water surface.
Thrives in full sun.
Red flowers in summer.
Also known as; Scarlet Rosemallow.

Hibiscus coccineus - Swamp hibiscus

Family Malvaceae

Description:

About two hundred species of Hibiscus are found around the world. Various species are used for fiber, seed oil, timber, food and medicines. Swamp hibiscus is native to moist areas of the southeastern United States. Large red flowers are held at the top of the stalks. It can grow to about ten feet tall but is usually shorter. The stems die to the ground each winter and resprout from the ground in spring.

Location:

See plants on the edge of pond ‘H’ behind building 6.

Size:

Herbaceous plant with stalks to six feet tall or more.

Care Instructions:

Light: full sun

Water: requires moist soil, tolerates standing water

Soil: moisture is essential, no other special requirements

This native plant is easy to grow in moist soils in northeast Florida.

6- Variegated Cattail
Typha latifolia variegatus