A soft, calming space is created by using different textures and shades of green foliage. The combination is effective on its own and mimics the style of a Japanese zen garden where texture takes precedence over an array of color. Play with color based on leaf selection alone, since you’ll find aquatic foliage in a range of colors such as dark green, lime green, and several variegated combinations.
One of the biggest mistakes novice water gardeners make is failing to realize how big their pond plants might grow. Be sure to take height and width of the mature plant into consideration and allow enough space for future growth. If your plants do become crowded and overgrown, you can always divide them or thin them out just like your land perennials. Give extras to a friend or consider planting some in a container water garden to grace another area of your yard.
Be mindful of how much sun your aquatic plants require, along with their planting depth. If a plant requires full sun, that’s a minimum of 6 hours of unobstructed (ie not dappled shade) sun per day. If you’re not sure what your plant needs, ask the pro at your local garden center or search online for information.