There are a few water garden plants that will do well in the shade. These open up the possibilities of more shady water and bog gardens with the same beauty as a full sun pond. The combination of the sitting water and the shade can make for a bit of problem with some plants, but not these. Any of these plants should be a keeper; which ones that will work in the landscape will depend on personal preference. There are three variations of Taros given and then two other alternatives for a total of five choices to create a shady water garden with the plants.
The Taros
There are three Taros (Taros are also known by the term “Elephant Ears”) that will do well. The first is Imperial Taro (Colocasia antiquorum). It will have colorful leaves of purple and green. The foliage is also heart shaped and so it adds texture and interest into the water or bog garden. This will be three to four feet when mature and is USDA hardy from zones 9 to 11.
The next is Black Magic Taro (Colocasia esculenta). This has darker foliage and the ability to grow twice as big (up to six feet for this species). It is still hardy to the USDA zones of 9 to 11.
Another is Ruffles Taro (Colocasia esculenta “ruffles”). This particular species will have its foliage ruffled on the edges. This is another interesting texture to add to the water or bog garden. It grows bigger than the other two listed, at eight feet. This species also is a little hardier, with its USDA zones ranging from 7 to 10.
Arrow Arum
Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica) is another really good shade loving water or bog plant. It will grow to two feet in height and the leaves of this will start to look like little arrowheads (hence the name). It will be hardy in USDA zones of 5 to 9.
Pickerel Rush
Pickerel Rush (Pontederia cordota) is like Imperial Taro (Colocasia antiquorum) in that it has heart shaped foliage. There is also the aspect that this is a flowering plant so you will get summer color of white or blue flowers. Pickerel Rush is hardy in USDA zones of 3 to 11.
The above five plants have a varying hardiness and a few similarities. Depending on what type of plant you’d like to use, these should be able to fit any water or bog garden plan.
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