Aquatic plants balance beauty with function in your fish pond. Just like a wild ecosystem, plants help keep the water clean, support koi fish health, and provide shelter—and sometimes even food. When chosen carefully and kept appropriately, your pond plants will create a healthy habitat for the fish and other animals that will live there.,Outdoor fish ponds turn backyards into private oases with gorgeous greenery and beautiful fish. If you’re building a fish pond in your backyard, you may wonder which plants are the best for ponds—specifically your pond! The pond plants you choose depend on where you live and how deep your pond is, because some plants, like marsh marigolds, do better at the marshy edges, while others like water lilies need to be planted in the substrate with 1–2 feet of water on top. If you’re struggling to decide on pond plants, here is a short list for inspiration.