Im no expert, but Id imagine a lily might struggle with the changing water level more than most. Lots of native marginals should be ok in that muddy zone, flag iris, bog arum, Spike rush (Eleocharis Acicularis) might be a good one, its a good oxegenator so will help fight the green algae, can live happily in water to about 60cm, but when it dries out its gets seedheads. Much beloved by amphibians. Id also put a good few bunches of native oxegenators in the middle, to cope with it at full depth not all would suit but something like hornwort should be fine.
I think your best bet might be to try and get as many different species in there as you can, as some will struggle and some will flourish. Also if you have more variety then its less likely that one will take over and become too thuggish
Hi jo - I grow an ornamental grass called Spartina. It naturally grows in locations where the water levels fluctuate - estuaries etc. It gets to about 4 feet, green/gold, and makes a big arching clump over time. Might be worth looking at I'll see if I can attach a photo.
Some of the bullrushes will do the same, but the big one can be quite invasive so it may need 'contained'. Planting into large tyres is a good way of doing that, but you may want to put that in an area which doesn't dry out. We had water mint contained that way at our last house where we had a large pond.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Jellyfire Thank you for all of your suggestions which I've downloaded for easier reference! I will have a further shopping trip soon with these ideas in hand. I hope that I can keep the lily over the summer by containing it in a buried dustin or something similar. I thought it might survive if I put it right in the centre of the pond where it is deepest. I spent the afternoon yesterday removing as much of the green algae as I could with a rake so it looks better but I didn't see any wildlife except one miniscule snail which I carefully replaced, alhtough it has its work cut out if it thinks it can munch through all the remaining green slime on its own! Thank you again. I really appreciate it.
Fairygirl Thank you for your helpful ideas. The spartina looks lovely, I shall certainly give that a go. The tyres idea is a good one too especially as it tends to dry out even in the centre.
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Id also put a good few bunches of native oxegenators in the middle, to cope with it at full depth not all would suit but something like hornwort should be fine.
I think your best bet might be to try and get as many different species in there as you can, as some will struggle and some will flourish. Also if you have more variety then its less likely that one will take over and become too thuggish
Some of the bullrushes will do the same, but the big one can be quite invasive so it may need 'contained'. Planting into large tyres is a good way of doing that, but you may want to put that in an area which doesn't dry out. We had water mint contained that way at our last house where we had a large pond.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
This was taken in summer 2016 - it was a lot bigger last year. It has tall flower heads too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you for all of your suggestions which I've downloaded for easier reference! I will have a further shopping trip soon with these ideas in hand. I hope that I can keep the lily over the summer by containing it in a buried dustin or something similar. I thought it might survive if I put it right in the centre of the pond where it is deepest. I spent the afternoon yesterday removing as much of the green algae as I could with a rake so it looks better but I didn't see any wildlife except one miniscule snail which I carefully replaced, alhtough it has its work cut out if it thinks it can munch through all the remaining green slime on its own!
Thank you again. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for your helpful ideas. The spartina looks lovely, I shall certainly give that a go. The tyres idea is a good one too especially as it tends to dry out even in the centre.