Aquatic beauties

Garden centers have consistently relied on aquatic plants to buoy business. In 2009, retailers can expect several ongoing water gardening trends to remain relevant. And there are plenty of new developments to keep an eye on. The push toward sustainability and current economic pressures will definitely shape the market this year. But exciting new plant offerings ought to spur interest among water gardeners and give them a great reason to hit stores this spring.

Past trends resurface
Gardeners continue to gravitate toward water lilies and marginals with colored and variegated leaves. They're looking for a change from plain green.

Marilyn Eigsti of Wonderful Waterlilies in Sarasota, Fla., is seeing another repeat trend: "People are still asking for lotuses and Victorias [giant water lilies]."

Miniature and small lotus are especially popular, with demand almost always exceeding supply. Water gardeners are no longer content to ogle Victorias at botanical gardens. They want to grow the huge lilies in their own ponds, fueling sales of small young plants in late spring and early summer, while the giant lilies are still manageable.

New trends
Kelly Billing with Maryland Aquatic Nurseries in Jarrettsville, Md., has seen an overwhelming demand for "native, native, native," a development that is also reflected in the new aquatics being introduced. She said it’s a result of nurseries and garden centers promoting the use of natives more heavily. The public’s interest in going green and creating sustainable gardens extends to water gardens.

Related to this are two additional trends. Use of natural methods to improve water quality is increasing, for both ornamental and retention ponds. The phytofiltration ability of aquatics is being harnessed to reduce dependence on chemicals and mechanical filters, while minimizing environmental impact. A broader range of wetland plants are being used, including flowering grasses like pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris), native to much of the Eastern U.S.

The other new trend is planting aquatics for food. There are dozens of attractive and edible plants for water gardens, including lotus, taro, water chestnut and wild rice.

One trend that has fallen out of favor, it seems, is disposable plants. Craig Presnell of Luster Aquatic Nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla., said customers are looking to preserve their investment.

"More and more people are willing to try to overwinter tropical marginals and [are] no longer tossing them as though they were annuals," he said. "I see a considerable increase in the number of people buying/building personal-sized greenhouses to overwinter the plants."

The economy will definitely be a factor on the water gardening trade, although it is difficult to predict its effect. Brad McLane at Florida Aquatic Nurseries in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., said, "As far as new trends, I guess I have to say the economy will be the most important factor next year. I think that pricing will be very important, as well as quality. I think buyers will demand they get a high-quality plant for the money they spend."

HOT PLANTS FOR 2009

Gunnera This dwarf species is from Africa. It only grows 18- to 24-inches tall with 6- to 8-inch leaves, and spreads rapidly on a creeping rhizome. One important feature is that it is much more heat tolerant than the Gunnera now available. It does best in saturated soils and full to partial shade. The blooms are frequent but insignificant. Photo: Luster Aquatic Nursery
Giant star grass This native of the Southern U.S. provides a distinctive look in water gardens. The unique flower is much larger and stands out more than regular star grass. Production techniques have finally been developed so it can now be offered in the trade. Its botanical name is Rhynchospora (or Dichromena) latifolia. Photo: Florida Aquatic Nursery
Zebratails cattail This exciting new cattail is a sport of Typha angustifolia. It is like the narrow-leaf cattail in its hardiness and growth, but with the addition of attractive yellow stripes on the leaves. The stripes are unusual since they are horizontal and run across the leaves, similar to zebra rush. Photo: Florida Aquatic Nurseries
Nymphaea 'Lynn Ellen' This new tropical water lily was hybridized by Craig Presnell in 2001. The medium-sized day bloomer has compact growth with approximately 8' leaf spread. The wide petals are yellow with blue edges and tips, but the colors are distinct so there is no “smoke” appearance. The pads are green. Photo: Luster Aquatic Nursery
Nelumbo 'Hakusetsukoushu' This medium-sized lotus is from Japan. It has double pure-white petals and the flower holds its shape well for three days. It is a prolific bloomer. Photo: Luster Aquatic Nursery
Nymphaea 'Southern Charm' This tropical water lily hybrid is from Florida Aquatic Nurseries. It is day blooming with smoky-blue flowers and dark-green pads mottled with maroon streaks. This fast grower is a prolific bloomer, most days having more than one flower open. It won the second place, People’s Choice Award in the 2007 IWGS New Waterlily Competition. Photo: Florida Aquatic Nurseries
Leather fern "Acrostichum danaeifolium is one new aquatic that I am excited about—the leather fern," said Rich Sacher of American Aquatic Gardens in New Orleans. This Florida native might not reach full height (8 to 12 feet) in northern climates, but it can quickly grow to 2 to 3 feet each season, providing a very lush exotic specimen. It also takes brackish water and could survive in fish ponds lightly treated with salt. Leather fern is a perfect candidate for overwintering offshoots indoors. Photo: Rich Sacher
Nymphaea 'Foxfire' Craig Presnell hybridized this prize-winning tropical water lily in 2003. It is a day bloomer with a large leaf spread and mottled pads. The breakthrough blue flowers have numerous pink petaloids. It was awarded the Best New Water Lily and Best Tropical in the 2004 IWGS Best New Waterlily Competition. Photo: Luster Aquatic Nursery