Water features make a beautiful addition to any garden space, but if you're looking for something a tad more unique, opting for unusual water features will make you garden stand out from the crowd. Even though we're used to seeing traditional or modern water features, there are plenty of weird and wonderful shapes and designs to choose - from animal shapes to features made from bamboo or glass.
Aside from design, unusual water features might include interactive sculptures that respond to touch or sound or installations that utilise optical illusions. Ultimately, what sets apart an unusual water feature is its ability to transform an environment into a realm of enchantment, making it a focal point that sparks conversations and leaves a lasting impression.
The best unusual water features at a glance:
• Best overall unusual water feature: Calla Lily Copper Water Feature - View now on Etsy
• Best unusual zen water feature: Ginko 5-Tier Bamboo Water Feature by Ambienté - View now on Amazon UK
• Best unusual modern water feature: Outdoor Spiral Water Feature Sandstone - View now on Crocus
Here, at Modern Gardens, we've rounded up our favourite unusual water features out there and have included some tips and tricks to best maintain them and keep them looking their best.
Best unusual water features
Best overall unusual water feature
www.etsy.com
If you're looking for an unusual water feature that will blend in with your greenery, this Calla Lily Copper Water Feature will do the job. The three copper lillies spout a gentle trickle of water which will create a relaxing and beautiful atmosphere in your garden.
Customer review: "Absolutely delighted with our new water feature! Lovely quality, and looked as seen on the website! Easy to install as we already had a pump! Arrived within the time frame given, and was well packaged! Philip responded to our email immediately! Would highly recommend! Two very happy customers!!"
Pros
- Striking finish
- Trickling effect
- Can be solar-powered
Cons
- Doesn't come with a pump, but the seller recommends this affordable BAITAI Submersible Water Pump from Amazon
| Material: | Copper |
| Weight: | Not specified |
| Power supply: | N/A |
Best unusual zen water feature
This beautiful and unusual Ginko 5-Tier Bamboo Water Feature will look great in any garden setting and will help bring a sense of tranquillity to your life. Crafted from polyresin, this self-contained feature is UV and frost-resistant and suitable for in and outdoor use.
Customer review: "Very happy with this Bamboo Water Feature which looks great in our Japanese Garden.
No problems with setting up and the power cable was ample to allow us to position the water feature where it looked best. Just what we were looking for!"
Pros
- Great for tranquillity
- Lovely sounds
- Realistic
Cons
- Instructions a little hard to understand
| Material: | Polyresin |
| Weight: | 13kg |
| Power Supply: | Mains power only |
Best unusual water feature for height
www.wayfair.co.uk
Suitable for indoors and outdoors, this unusual and delicate tiered fountain is made from durable iron and has 19 tiers. As water cascades from one cup to the next, it makes soft sounds to help you relax. Plus it comes with the pump included for easy set-up.
Customer review: "This water feature is elegant and beautiful, excellent value and quality."
Pros
- Stylish antique look
- Mimics the sound of a real waterfall
- Great for small spaces
Cons
- Not too powerful
| Material: | Metal |
| Weight: | 5.17kg |
| Power supply: | Electricity 240V |
Best modern unusual water feature
www.crocus.co.uk
The Outdoor Spiral Water Feature stands 82cm tall and is a striking feature wherever you place it. It's made from sandstone-effect resin that's UV and frost-resistant. Make this the centrepiece of a patio, with its sweeping design where water falls through the spiral, lit from below by LEDs to create a Modernist spectacle. This water feature is mains-operated and needs to be plugged in for use. It comes with a two-year warranty.
Pros
- Spectacular Modernist design
- Low maintenance
- Plug in and go
Cons
- No customer reviews
| Material: | Polyresin |
| Weight: | <meta charset="utf-8">Not specified |
| Power supply: | Mains-powered |
Best small and stylish unusual water feature
Perfect for small gardens, we love this handmade Tidal Mushroom Garden Water Feature, made from copper. Designed to stand out, they are child and pet-safe and are easy to install - just add water and plug-in to play.
Customer review: "This is a lovely looking water feature, looks just like the picture. Doesn't look cheap and tacky like some do. It is designed to be sunk in to the ground, but I have mine standing on the patio in a big barrel. It does splash outside it's reservoir so be prepared to keep filling it up. The stones it came with were completely pointless, they didn't even cover a quarter of the dish!"
Pros
- Easy to install
- Look lovely in the evening
- Well made
Cons
- Some reviews say it uses a lot of water and needs topping up
| Material: | Copper |
| Weight: | Not specified |
| Power supply: | Electrical |
Best animal-shaped unusual water feature
www.etsy.com
This unique but lovely fish water feature is made of bronze and makes a great addition to your outdoor space or pond. It has a water connection through which the water will spray out of its mouth.
Customer review: "Exactly like the picture. Very nicely made and shipped quickly. Very happy with it."
Pros
- Great quality
- Bronze, so will weather with time and fit into the surroundings
Cons
- Doesn't come with a power supply
| Material: | Bronze |
| Weight: | Not specified |
| Power supply: | N/A |
Best unusual round water feature
www.primrose.co.uk
Gorgeous and delicate, this glass translucent round water feature features beautiful colour-changing lights to brighten up your garden and has an integrated control so you can switch between colours at any time. The sphere also comes with a black reservoir, hose and fittings.
Pros
- Unique
- Integrated control
- Self-contained
Cons
- No customer reviews yet
| Material: | Acrylic |
| Weight: | Not specified |
| Power supply: | Electric 30W |
FAQs
How to look after your unusual water feature?
Whatever the material, water features will all benefit from a quick wipe-over every couple of weeks - even if it's just with a damp cloth. If you've got a stainless steel water feature, you can buy stainless steel cleaner that will help keep the reflections looking beautiful and will also add to the longevity of the water feature. It is a good thing to keep on top of, as algae and debris may interfere with the flow of the water.
What does a flow rate mean in a water feature?
Before you shop, decide whether you want a noise-masking gush or a quietly soothing trickle. Taller features with multiple levels are always going to be louder than a low bubbling pool, so it's worth investing in a taller water feature if you want to detract from noisy surroundings.
By looking at the water flow rate of a garden water feature, you will find out just how much water is pushed through it. Plus, you'll know how much noise it will make.
Luckily, water features typically come with a pump that is appropriate for the size and volume of their design. Usually measured in gallons per minute (GPM), this measurement defines the rate at which the pump can push water through the system; the higher the rate, the noisier it will be.
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Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle.