Aquatic plants play a vital role in turtle ponds. They act as a food source, hiding area and nesting place to your shelled buddies. Floating, underwater and marginal plants will be the 3 main sorts of aquatic plants that it is possible to grow in turtle ponds.
Floating Aquatic Plants Created For Cover
Floating aquatic plants create foliage that floats along the surface of the water. Lotus (Nelumbo spp.) , water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) And watershield (Brasenia schreberi) are floating plants that provide cover for young turtles. Lotus grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 10 in sunlight. Lotus grows in USDA zones 4 through 10, between 3 and 6 feet tall with large, elegant blossoms that last for just 3 times. Water lilies are a frequent pond plant producing stunning blooms that rise slightly above the water level while its large foliage pads rest on the water surface. Water lilies grow best in full sunlight in USDA zones 5 through 11. Watershield grows in USDA zones 6 through 9 with oval-shaped leaves that float on the water surface and purple blooms that protrude up in the water.
Floating Aquatic Plants Used For Food
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) and fairy moss (Azolla caroliniana) are just two floating plants that turtles will graze on while in the pond. Water lettuce grows in USDA zones 8 through 11 in full sunlight or partial shade. It has rosette-shaped foliage that floats on the water’s surface and helps prevent algae from growing. It is creamy yellow blooms are usually unimpressive and give way to green fruit having a berry-like look. Fairy moss is a floating fern growing in USDA zones 5 through 9 and is a food source for wildlife wildlife and various fish as well as turtles.
Submerged Aquatic Plants
Submerged plants reside below or at the water surface. Their roots may be rooted at the base of the pond or float freely throughout the water. Water celery (Vallisneria americana) and Fishweed (Lagarosiphon major) are just two submerged aquatic plants that turtles will feast on. Water celery grows in USDA zones 4 through 10, producing blade-like leaves that will float on the surface of shallow ponds. It grows best in full sunlight to partial shade. Fishweed grows in sun or shade in USDA zones 5 through 11. It has a feathery look and releases oxygen into the pond through photosynthesis.
Marginal Aquatic Plants
Marginal plants grow in overly wet, soggy and soaked soils and thrive at the edges of lakes, ponds and other bodies of water. Rushes (Juncus inflexus) and sedges (Carex) are just two marginal aquatic plants that act as cover for turtles as well as frogs. Rushes are ornamental grasses growing in USDA zones 4 through 9 in sunlight. They reach heights of 1 to 3 feet tall and create brown flowers that provide way to bird-attracting seed capsules. Sedges are grass-like marginal plants that make foliage in a variety of colors from bright yellow to deep green. They climb in sunny to partly shade regions in USDA zones 4 through 9.