Water lilies, lotus, marginals, and floaters — selected for Memphis summers.
Aquatic Plants for Sale in Memphis, TN
The right plants do more for water clarity than any bottle on the shelf. We stock what actually performs in Zone 7b and we’ll tell you exactly where in the pond each one belongs.
Chosen for Zone 7b
Hardy varieties that overwinter here, and tropicals worth treating as annuals. We’ll tell you which is which.
Plants as Algae Control
Surface coverage starves algae of light. Plants aren’t decoration — they’re the cheapest filtration you’ll ever buy.
Planted Right the First Time
Aquatic soil, gravel caps, correct depth. Most plant failures are planting failures.
Grown for Our Climate
Memphis summers are long and hot. That’s brutal on some plants and ideal for others — lotus especially.
Why Plants Matter
The Cheapest Algae Control You Can Buy
Most people come to us for aquatic plants because they want the pond to look better. They stay because the pond gets clearer.
Algae is a competition for two things: light and nutrients. Every square foot of lily pad shading the surface is a square foot algae can’t use, and every marginal plant pulling nitrogen out of the water is nitrogen algae doesn’t get. Aim for roughly half to sixty percent of your surface covered at peak season and you’ve removed most of what a string algae bloom needs to take hold.
That’s also why the worst algae months in Memphis are early spring. Water warms before plants wake up, and algae gets a head start on an empty pond. Planting early — as soon as the frost risk passes, typically late March here — closes that window.
Hardy and tropical water lilies and lotus. The workhorses of surface coverage, planted in the deepest zones.
Iris, pickerel rush, arrowhead, and rushes for shelves and edges. Heavy nutrient feeders that soften hard liner edges.
Fast, temporary shade for new ponds and hot months. Never introduce these to natural waterways.
Anacharis and hornwort working below the surface, competing directly with algae for nutrients.
What We Stock
Aquatic Plants on Our Benches
Aquatic plant availability is highly seasonal — most varieties arrive in spring and sell through summer. Call ahead at (901) 286-3302 if you’re after something specific.
Hardy Water Lilies
Tropical Water Lilies
Lotus
Louisiana & Blue Flag Iris
Pickerel Rush
Arrowhead & Sagittaria
Rushes & Horsetail
Taro & Canna
Submerged Oxygenators
Why Buy Plants Here
Why Buy Aquatic Plants From a Pond Builder
Aquatic plants get sold as decoration and fail as decoration. Planted at the wrong depth, in the wrong medium, or in the wrong quantity, they sulk for a season and then rot.
We build and maintain ponds for a living, which means we plant these varieties in real ponds constantly and see what happens years later. That’s a different kind of knowledge than a shelf tag provides.
Depth Actually Matters
Every aquatic plant has a zone. We’ll tell you exactly where each one goes in your pond.
Right Medium, Right Container
Heavy loam and a gravel cap, not potting soil. Potting mix floats out and feeds algae.
Planted for Coverage
We’ll calculate what your surface area actually needs rather than selling you a random armful.
We Maintain Ponds Too
We see how these plants perform in year three, not just week one.
Continuing the Palladio Tradition
Our Design Center occupies the former Palladio Memphis on South Cox Street, for years the place Memphians came for garden and outdoor furnishings. We’re carrying that forward, now with a team that designs, builds, and maintains water features across the Mid-South.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Pond Plants
What Memphis pond owners ask us most often about aquatic planting.
Once frost risk has passed and water is warming — typically late March into April. Tropical varieties should wait until water holds steadily above about 70°F, usually May. Planting early matters because algae wakes up before plants do.
Target roughly fifty to sixty percent surface coverage at peak season. That’s enough shade to meaningfully limit algae without turning the pond into a mat you can’t see fish through.
Hardy water lilies, lotus, Louisiana and blue flag iris, pickerel rush, arrowhead, and most rushes overwinter here reliably, provided their roots sit below the freeze line. Tropical lilies, taro, and water lettuce are annuals unless you bring them in.
Heavy clay loam or a dedicated aquatic planting medium, topped with a gravel cap to hold it in place. Never standard potting mix — it floats out, clouds the water, and its fertilizer feeds algae directly.
Koi will absolutely dig up and shred plants, particularly lilies. It’s manageable with gravel caps, protective baskets, and plant placement, but it’s a real consideration when you’re stocking both.
Yes, and they’re the most cost-effective control available. Plants take the light and nutrients algae needs. They won’t fix a pond that’s overstocked or under-filtered, but no treatment works well without them.
Plan A Visit
How to Get Started
Surface area and shelf depths are all we need to size your planting.
Which plants go where, and how many for real coverage.
Correct medium, correct depth, gravel capped. Or we’ll plant it for you.
Visit Us Today
Shop Aquatic Plants in Midtown Memphis
Our aquatic plants are on the benches at the Memphis Water Gardens Design Center, 741 S Cox St, Memphis, TN 38104, at the former Palladio Memphis location. We are an easy trip from East Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Cordova, Arlington, Lakeland, Southaven, and Olive Branch.
741 S Cox St., Memphis, TN 38104
Phone : (901) 286-3302
Monday - Saturday: 9:00am to 4:00pm (Closed Sunday)
Start With the Plants, Not the Chemicals
A well-planted pond does most of its own filtration. Come tell us about your water and we’ll help you cover it properly.