A koi pond can create a peaceful garden retreat

There’s something special about having a koi pond in your garden.

The gentle sound of trickling water, the glimmer of colorful fish gliding beneath the surface and the lush, layered plantings around it combine to create a space that feels alive and restorative.

I recently explored a charming backyard garden in Meridian at the home of Ben Box and Robert Covington. A beautifully designed koi pond takes center stage in their landscape that blends structure, texture and color to make the space inviting and serene.

A standout in this garden is papyrus, the same plant once used by ancient Egyptians to make paper. Its tall, slender stems topped with feathery, umbrella-like clusters create movement and drama. Papyrus thrives in full sun and loves consistently moist conditions, making it a perfect choice for the edges of ponds or water gardens.

It can grow year-round in warm climates like ours, although it appreciates protection from hard freezes. For containers or small ponds, dwarf varieties such as King Tut or Baby Tut offer a compact form while keeping their distinctive texture.

Behind the pond, the large, heart-shaped leaves of elephant ears unfurl to create a tropical backdrop. The lush leaves contrast beautifully with fine-textured plants. These perennial elephant ears love moisture and thrive in rich, well-drained soil and partial shade.

Feed elephant ears regularly during the growing season to keep their foliage large and colorful. Leaves come in shades of deep green, chartreuse or even variegated with streaks of white, adding a dramatic flair.

Tucked among the larger plants are graceful irises and ornamental grasses, adding structure and softness.

Many aquatic iris varieties, such as Louisiana or Japanese iris, perform beautifully near the water’s edge where their roots can stay damp but not submerged. Their elegant blooms come in shades of blue, purple and white, adding bursts of color in spring and early summer.

Hosts add balance to all this texture. These shade-loving perennials with chartreuse, blue-green and variegated leaves provide a cool, calming counterpoint to the brighter greens around the pond.

Their lush mounds of leaves soften the hard lines of stone borders and create a sense of harmony between the plants and water.

Hostas prefer dappled light and rich, well-draining soil. Consistent moisture keeps their foliage looking fresh, and a layer of mulch helps protect their roots from heat and drought.

And then there are the true stars of the pond, the koi.

These ornamental fish are often called living jewels, and it’s easy to see why. They have brilliant orange, white, gold and black patterns that shimmer in the sunlight as they move gracefully through the water.

Koi require good water quality and filtration, along with regular feeding and shade to keep the pond environment healthy. Watching them glide through the reflections of the surrounding plants adds a dynamic element to the garden.

Framing the entire space are neatly trimmed boxwood shrubs providing year-round structure and evergreen appeal. Their tidy, formal shapes contrast nicely with the free-flowing foliage around the pond.

Boxwoods prefer partial sun and well-draining soil, with occasional pruning to maintain their shape. A light application of slow-release fertilizer in spring encourages dense growth.

The towering papyrus, glossy elephant ears, graceful hostas and shimmering koi combine to create a garden that engages the senses and creates a peaceful retreat.