• The leaves of a water lily float.water-lily image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com
  
  Aquatic plants can greatly enhance the beauty of a pond or other body of water, whether they are planted in containers or grow naturally. Many of the most common types of plants grown in water have only the roots and possibly the stems underwater with most of the leaves or flowers floating or standing above the surface of the water.
  
  

Lotus

• The varieties of the lotus plant fall into the herbaceous perennial category of plants grown in water. This means that they will return year after year and have waxy leaves above water that resemble land plants. Although lotus grow in water, they grow best in containers in a garden pond. The size of the lotus determines what size of container is needed; some varieties will use a 20 to 30 gallon container and will not grow properly in one that is too small. Start with only a few inches of water to cover and make sure the water is not too cold.
  
  

Cattail

• Cattails are another example of a herbaceous perennial plant. Their characteristic brown stalks grow high above the water, sometimes reaching a height of 10 feet. Cattails grow in thick groups, and are sometimes planted to help avoid erosion in a pond. They provide an important habitat for birds and other small animals, and different parts of the plant have been used in pillows, glue and fireworks.
  
  

Water Iris

• Water irises differ from other iris varieties in that they require a watery bog environment to grow. The large branching root structure of a group of irises along the edge of a pond is useful for helping to remove toxins from the water. Water irises can be planted without a container, but will rapidly spread if not maintained. They can also be grown either from seeds or by dividing a mature water iris plant.
  
  

Water Lilies

• Water lilies are one of the most classic aquatic plants, with their characteristic broad floating leaves. Water lilies come in two basic types: hardy water lilies and tropical water lilies. Hardy water lilies can tolerate cooler temperatures well and will bloom until September. During the winter these lilies will only become dormant. Tropical water lilies prefer water of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more. This type of water lily will not grow properly if started in cooler waters. All water lilies grow best in containers covered by a small layer of gravel.