Water Hawthorn (Aponogenton)Aponogeton distachyos is probably one of the best Deep-water aquatics, it is an easy plant to grow with leaves which can be evergreen and flowers that appear for months on end. These curious flowers borne on spikes which float at the surface, each flower has waxy white petals and black anthers. The fragrance is strong, variously described as 'vanilla and 'Hawthorn-like'. The oblong leaves tend to be blotched with brown and the eventual spread is about 2 ft. Unlike a Water Lily it will eventually flourish in partial shade and moving water, but be sure that it is deep enough for the tubers that they are below the ice in winter.
Pond Lily (Nuphar)This is certainly a relative of the Water Lily family however it seriously is not as attractive as it's illustrious cousin. The flowers are small, rather plain and are carried on thick stems above the water. There are, however, a small number of distinct advantages, light ans shade is no problem and neither is moving water. For an average sized pond choose 'Nuphar minima' (N. pumila). The yellow flowers are about 1inch across and also the under-water foliage is translucent. Unfortunately, the varieties on offer are often the enormous ones including N. lutea (Brandy Bottle) with its 3 inch bottle shaped yellow flowers which smell strongly of alcohol. This is only ideal for a large pond or lake.
Water Fringe (Nymphoides)There is simply one basic species - Nymphoides peltata, commonly often called Floating Heart. Inside the catalogues you might locate it listed as Villarsia bennettii or Limnanthermum nymphoides. The miniature Water Lily-like leaves measure about 2 inches across and tend to be crinkly edged and blotched or spotted with brown. The 11/2 inch yellow flower is more like a Buttercup than a Water Lily, and also the petal edges are fringed. The blooms are borne in small clusters. This can be a useful plant for giving rapid surface cover before Water Lilies become too established, but it could possibly get out of hand.
Golden Club (Orontium)Orontium aquaticum is mostly a trouble free and non-invasive plant with only one fussy requrement, it does need lots of soil, so remember to plant it in a deep Water Lily basket. It should grow in shallow water, but it needs a planting depth of no less than 1ft. if you'd like the leaves to float on the water surface rather than standing erect out of the water. The foliage is attractive with blue-green above and silvery below. The most outstanding feature of this member of the Arum family is the unusual flower head. This stands above the water like a pure white pencil having a tip that is coloured gold by a mass of small yellow florets. This is one aquatic plant that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone.