I have Creeping Jenny, ferns,Elephant Ear, Sedum,Mexican Heather,Hydrangea....I am also in Southern Calif with very mild winters so I'm not sure if these will work where you are.................susie

I have Purslane, It likes full sun and is very prolific. I have mine planted in pots, but pieces have broken off and is growing everywhere it can find even a little soil like in between my rocks. I'm in Fl so don't know if it will grow there or not. Glenda

The Gosling Wildlife Gardens at the University of Guelph Arboretum sounds like a great place to start. They have a native plants garden, among others, and their goal is to motivate "visitors to do similar plantings in their own backyards." :)

Brenda

Try yellow flag iris, either in pond or on edge.

One of the most unusual types of perennials you can grow in a garden near a pond is the pitcher plant. These plants can be grown most easily in zones 6 through 8, but will adapt to colder zones if protected with a mulch in the winter. There are eight different species of these plants in the U.S., ranging in size from four inches to three feet! They all have one thing in common: They eat bugs. The plants secrete a wonderful smelling nectar (wonderful to the bugs, that is). Once the bug enters the pitcher, it's nearly impossible for it to get out. The sides of the plant are slippery and lined with tiny hairs that point downward. The bug is then Âdigested by the liquid, which contains enzymes that break down the prey so the plant can absorb it.
Pitcher plants have wonderful colors ranging from green to red to yellow. Ideally your pitcher plant should receive a few hours of sunshine each day so it can achieve this wonderful color.
The biggest challenge to growing these beauties is maintaining the right soil conditions. Plants need to be grown in a simulated bog formed from a mixture of sphagnum moss, medium orchid bark, and charcoal. Be sure the mixture is not allowed to dry out during the growing months.
In the winter the plants will go dormant. You should cut back the plants to the ground. They can be divided carefully just after the ground thaws, but before they start growing again for the new season.
Another bonus of these plants is that they yield some of the most unusual flowers you can find. The flowers look almost fake, but be assured, they're real.

Here is a link that might be useful: a pitcher plant video

If you want natural looking plants then look for ones that don't flower or only flower in the spring. I like ferns around a pond but most of them need shade as do most hostas. I have sedums, creeping jenny, Japanese painted ferns along my waterfall, Siberian iris on one side of the pond and tried Purple Fountain Grass this year because of the color. In your zone you could grow Japanese maple which looks great beside a pond. Low growing evergreens are nice too--not sure which ones would do well in your zone. Be careful when selecting grasses to plant near the pond as some are very invasive like cattails! Brenda's suggestion sounds good for your area. Good luck! Patti