Wildlife pond planting

KitMiller

I've just put in a pre formed pond which I want to be a wildlife pond.  I have a plan for the floating, marginal and oxygenating plants but I'm not sure what I should be putting around the edges as I want to make sure I have suitable plants to provide cover etc.  The soil is heavy clay, and will be slightly raised on one side to a small bank as the garden is on a slight slope. Has anyone got any suggestions please as to what will do well in clay soil? Thanks

robairdmacraignil

I have found this type of creeping Jenny has worked well at the edge of my own pond.

Happy gardening!

Fairygirl

Is it for all aspects, or just one or two? Is the soil retentive or does it dry out in summer?
Marsh marigolds - Caltha, will be fine, semi shade is ideal for them, but they'll take sun as well.
Irises - lots of different types, so choose carefully. 
Bergenias, Ferns, Hellebores - they'll all do fine depending on the aspect. 
Carexes - not the pendula one which is highly invasive. Plenty of grasses will work quite well, depending on the aspect.
Lysimachia - if you like it. I don't 
There are loads of plants that will suit - depending on the space you have. I have various bulbs as well - snowdrops, crocus daffs etc, round and beside my pond.

A photo would help 

bertrand-mabel

@Fairygirl Agree with you about the first two but not sure about bergenias etc group. Yes we do have ferns on the edge of our wildlife pond but no hellebores or bergenias....maybe we should?

Again interesting about your bulbs. The nearest ones to our pond are in a gravel bed and a small bog garden but no crocus/daffs.

Fairygirl

Last spring, I decided on a whim, to make a new, bigger pond, at the sunnier end of the back garden. Sticky, solid clay, so it was difficult to dig down to the depth I would have liked. I'd have needed to bring in a digger to get it any deeper.
This was taken in October. The area round that Ligularia on the left, is underplanted with crocus, snowdrops, daffs, primulas etc, as well as a Chrysographes Iris. All the daffs are coming through just now. Many of the plants were just moved from other parts of the garden, and from the old, small pond.


Campanulas are another good plant for shady spots. Very happy in clay soil. I grow the Harebells, which are known as Scottish bluebells - C. rotundifolia. They're on the right, by the rocks. The mild autumn meant they were still flowering. 

Posy

We have Creeping Jenny on heavy clay, wet and dry areas. Beware, creeping should be galloping. I like it but spend an awful lot of time pulling it out.

KitMiller

Thank you everyone, thats great - I'm adding all those onto my list.