Plants that spread quickly?

[JBtheExplorer]

This Spring I plan on heading out to my nearest pond place and getting more plants for my pond. Ideally I'm looking for ones that spread. I'm not looking for water lilies, water hyacinth, water lettuce, or cattail. I'm looking for something different, cheap but fairly common to find. Also ones that will come back season after season. Ones that cover the surface would be nice, but I'm really looking anything. Any ideas?

 

[Nepen]

parrot feather! they spread quickly for me

 

[j.w]

I love Parrots Feather! I think it likes calm water tho as I lost a bunch of mine when I stuck in my big aerator. Anyway something happened to it and it might still come back from wherever it went.

 

[sissy]

remember spreading plants can and will clog your pump

 

[addy1]

remember spreading plants can and will clog your pump

Never had that problem, but I have an exterior pump. Penny wort spreads nicely.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

parrot feather!

I love Parrots Feather!

Good to know because I already plant on getting some!

remember spreading plants can and will clog your pump

That won't be an issue for me. All my plants will be in various sized planters and split and replanted when needed.

 

[jmajid]

does duckweed count?
i dont have any - thinking of getting some...
but im torn between wanting to see my fish and having some cover

 

[Mmathis]

does duckweed count?
i dont have any - thinking of getting some...
but im torn between wanting to see my fish and having some cover

Duck weed grows fast, but the fish LOVE to eat it! Won't last long.


Did a Google search and found this site that lists a few different plants. If you wanted to do a search of your own, look for "hardy" plants as these are the ones most likely to return every year.
http://www.ccwaterscapes.com/floating_plant_list.htm

 

[jmajid]

yea, i was thinking of getting some - put part of it in the pond and leave the rest in a container of some sort outside the pond and then replenish the pond as necessary once the fish have decided they like the taste

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Yeah I tried duckweed last year. I put a square foot of it in the pond, and it was gone in a day just glad i collected it rather than pay for it. They also enjoy Fairy moss. I like both plants but it disappears so fast I probably wont go that route this year. Interesting enough, the Salvinia Minima lasted a lot longer.

 

[j.w]

If I put duckweed in the pond I have to put it in a floating ring protected w/ fiberglass screen underneath or those darn piggy fishes will eat it up so fast I have to scratch my head and ask myself "Did I just put that in there yesterday?"
I have to dole it out a little at a time.
Azolla is a nice teensy floating plant and think the fish might nip at its tiny roots but not sure as I protect that from that also and have never fed them any. I can find duckweed and the Azolla floating in wild ponds nearby.

Azolla:

 

[Sunshine]

Chocolate Mint. It spreads fast and smells oh so good

 

[Sharon Goode]

When you go to the local ponds for duck weed does it cause any other problems? My neighbor has a 5 acre pond and I am going to go raid his as soon as it makes its come back from the cold weather.

 

[VanDiesil]

Chocolate Mint. It spreads fast and smells oh so good

Was about to suggest Water Mint myself!!!! The single 4" sprig I planted in my existing pond in July 2013 was over 6 feet in length and bushy as a bush!!! Seemed to have gone absolutely mental over the last 3 weeks!!!!

 

[Shdwdrgn]

My wife takes all the excess duckweed from her aquariums and throws it in my pond, so I have an unending supply that is known to be clean.

I'm talking to a guy who knows a local river where I can get val and other underwater plants... I really want something for the bottom of my pond this year.