Menu Close
Close
Close
Clear
Aquatic Gardenin summer pink lily

Aquatic & Monocot Gardens

Bold tropicals & a tranquil pool

Situated just north of the Wild Garden, these two spaces share nothing with the naturalistic plantings and winding paths there. Here, a formal setting of neatly trimmed hedges and symmetrical stone pergolas provide the framework for a lush display of monocots and a rectangular, shallow pool. Come summer, the monocots are lush and intriguing, and the water garden a rich display of aquatic plants.

Monocot purple

A member of the arum family, Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic', commonly known as taro, is a tuberous, stemless perennial that makes a big, monocot kind of statement.

Monocots

Monocotyledons represent one of two types of flowering plants—the other are dicotyledons—and describe plants whose seeds contain one single leaf—dicots have two.

Founding Director of Horticulture Marco Polo Stufano devised several teaching gardens in this area in the early years of Wave Hill’s being a public garden—asuccotash garden one year and a planting of a single plant family, the composites (Compositae/Asteraceae), another. But it was a monocot planting that seemed especially appealing to most visitors. Funding, provided by the Rossbachs, a local family, allowed for the construction of the stone retaining walls and the patio between the two beds.

N Monocot in fall 2
Monocot in summer the spread
Monocot in fall
Monocot close up 3
Monocot close up
Monocot close up 2

From a quiet, empty space in winter and into spring, the Monocot Garden transforms itself into a dramatic destination in summer and fall.

Monocot gourds 2

In fall, several kinds of gourds dangle from above.

Monocot luffa 2

Loofah (Luffa aegyptiaca), looking like huge cucumbers, are the source of the natural scrubbing sponge, though ours are grown for ornamental purposes only.

Garden Monocot lagenaria

Nearby are some examples of Lagenaria siceraria ‘Speckled Swan’, an attractive cultivar of the calabash gourd.

Gardens Aquatic drone shot in August

Aquatic Garden

The pool, measuring 40 by 25 feet is flanked by long pergolas on its north and south sides, providing a strong architectural element to this space.

Gardens Aquatic gardenin summer frog
Gardens Aquatic garden in summer purple close up
Gardens Aquatic close up NMH
Gardens Aquatic Garden in summer
Gardens Aquatic close up plants 5
Gardens Aquatic plants close up
Gardens Aquatic close up plants 3

Potted Plants, Inky Water

In the warmer months, potted plants from the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory play an import role around the edge of the pool. Aquatic plants, both hardy and tropical, are rooted into soil-filled containers. These are immersed in the water and positioned, either on the concrete floor or raised on cinder blocks, according to their growth habit. A harmless dye tints the water black and results in a glossy, reflective surface that helps to inhibit the growth of algae—and for the resident frogs and fish offers a little protection from visiting herons.

Gardens Aquatic Sun Porch

Hardy plants remain in the pool for the winter month. The less hardy are brought indoors.

Gardens Aquatic hedge

Along the east side of the Aquatic Garden, opposite the Monocot Garden, a high-backed bench provides a place to contemplate the stage before one. Behind the bench is an opening in a long , tall hedge of hornbeam, leading to a long allee running from the Shade Border to a path along the back side of the Wild Garden.

Gardens Aquatic hedges from behind

The hornbeam hedge, on the left, seen from the path leading north to the Shade Border.

Gardens Aquatic August 2019 close up

Aquatic and Monocot Gardens in August

The Monocot and Aquatic gardens' formal arrangement creates a pleasing rectangular symmetry, softened by the abundant foliage of the plantings.

Learn more
Nymphaea close up 1

Water lily cultivar

Until the late 19th century all species of hardy water lily—those native to temperate climates with cool winters—were resolutely white-flowered.

Learn more
Leichtlinii close up

Leichtlin's lily

Leichtlin’s lily (Lilium leichtlinii) grows up to four feet high and produces masses of golden-yellow flowers.

Learn more