Plant for very small wildlife pond

[gray1720]

Yes, plant singular!

In the ongoing absence of time, money and space to put in the big rockery* with raised pond that I really want to do, I've decided to add a little bit of water to at least attract interests and have added a pair of sink-bowl ponds - hence plant singular!

Any ideas what I could put in them to help attract the critters? See pic - I think they'll look OK once they've been grown up around.

*I have, however, collected from the local fields on my lockdown exercise time not spent on the plot several tons of rocks, many flattish and just nice for building.

[Paulh]

You could try a gunnera ... 

[gray1720]

...but then I'd need to plant the gunnera first, and put the pond in the gunnera, and I want a plant in the pond, not a pond in the plant! 

My morning didn't need brightening up, but that has done so, thank you!

[Tee Gee]

May I suggest you look in here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/P/Plants%20for%20purpose/Plants%20for%20Purpose.htm

Scroll Down to around the middle of the page and you will find a few suggestions under the poolside/ marginal plants list.

Click on each of them for cultural suggestions.


Hope this helps

[Digeroo]

I like candelabra primulas, though they like margins rather than in the water. 
I have fallen for lobelia cardinalis but that is not quite in the gunnera department but at at 4 feet plus it is not far off.  But otherwise could be called the queen of the bog plants.
So perhaps it has to be a flag.

[ACE]

As the water is contained, there will not really be proper damp marginal areas so anything goes that fits the theme of the area. What I would do though is get some mosses to plant in amongst the rocks to green it up a bit, also those small irises to give the  area a damp ambience.

[gray1720]

I must admit I was thinking more of a water plant *in* each for oxygenation and cover for critters (I am aware that this may mean a lot of watching the levels in summer when my stock of rainwater is lowest!). However the ideas for stuff *around* them largely cover stuff I'd not thought of, so keep them coming please. I do have some white iris that I've popped in next to them, and there was borage there last year (see front of photo!), so I may have to fight that regularly.

[ACE]

Something in the water?   wetland grasses are good for cover, pond insects etc. Just lift, shake and cut a chunk off when it gets too big. A different colour in each tub.

[gray1720]

That's a good call, Ace.