Ghaf Gardens

Plant library · 4 plants

Water plants for ponds and rills

Water plants bring ponds, rills and pool-side water features to life, from floating leaves that shade the surface to marginal plants at the water's edge. In Dubai's heat shallow water warms quickly and evaporates fast, so a pond needs partial shade and regular topping up. Each plant below lists its sun and care needs.

Plants4Easy care1 of 4
A contemporary lily pond in a Dubai villa garden with water lilies, a lotus and papyrus

The plants

All 4 water plants

Every plant is rated 1–5 for heat, salt, drought, shade and ease of care, with a month-by-month season guide.
Water Lily
A flower of the 'Peach Glow' cultivar of hardy water-lily (genus Nymphaea), photographed just after rain at the Brook...

Water Lily

Nymphaea (tropical hybrids)

Sun/part shadeSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers
Lotus
Flower of Nelumbo nucifera, bean of India.

Lotus

Nelumbo nucifera

Full sunSalt: 1 of 5
Flowers
Papyrus
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, UGANDA

Papyrus

Cyperus papyrus

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Plant
Umbrella Sedge
Cyperus alternifolius, Landscape plants of the UAE, Monocotyledonous flower

Umbrella Sedge

Cyperus involucratus

Sun/part shadeSalt: 2 of 5
Adapted
Plant

More plants

Other plant types

Pool + garden care

From AED 500/month

Price depends on your garden's size, pool and complexity. Prices in AED, excluding 5% VAT.