Choose Your Water Lily Type & Colour From Long List Here
Beautiful waterlily ponds containing water lilies once seen are never totally forgotten. One of the most famous collections of waterlilies is in the Pampelmous water gardens in Mauritius. And everyone at some stage or another has seen Monet's water lilies even though they are on canvas. Waterlilies are easy to grow. Water lilies needs deeper water and do not like flowing or splashing water.
Water lilies, also called Nymphea and Lotus are type 1 aquatic plants
Water lilies and nymphae are available in many different colours. Water lilies' colour is probably the most important choice factor although size, scent and water depth are other characteristics of the water lilies. The lotus flower is another name for water lilies. These water lilies are often referred to as a deep water marginal plants.
Water lilies would tend to be planted in water 60cm deep and more. However today many varieties of water lilies are available that can be planted in half barrels. Some water lilies however require depths greater than 1 metre to fully develop. It is better to plant water lilies shallower rather than deeper water if this is a constraint.
The most popular varieties of water lilies are Carnea (pink water lilies) and Alba (white water lilies).
Do make sure that at least 1/3 of the water surface is left uncovered. Water lilies can be very vigorous growers.
Other deep water aquatic plants which are not waterlilies but enjoy the same environment are:
- Water Hawthorn
- Brandy Bottle
- Golden Club
- Floating Heart
Nymphaea waterlily white varieties ... 10 cm = 4 inches, 1 sq metre = 10 sq feet
| Name | Depth of water in cm | Spread in sq m 1 sqm = 10 sq ft |
Description |
| Alba | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
1.50 to 2.00 | An indigenous lily with green foliage that can grow in water up to 3 meters deep. Blooms are 10-15 cm across. |
| Gladstoniana | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
1.50 to 2.50 | Pure white, very large cup-shaped blooms with golden stamens. Dark green foliage. Very suitable for pools or lakes. |
| Marliacea Albida | 30 to 75 or 1 to 2.3 ft |
1.00 to 1.25 | Prolific fragrant white flowers stand just above the water surface. Green foliage. |
| odorata minor | 20 to 30 or
9 to 14 inch |
0.40 to 0.60 | Star-shaped fragrant blooms. Pale green leaves with red undersides. |
| odorata | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
0.75 to 1.00 | Tuberous rooted variety with medium sized fragrant blooms and pale green foliage. |
| pygmaea Alba | 15 to 30 or
6 to 14 inch |
0.40 to 0.60 | Probably a form of N. tetragona. Miniature white flowers. Can be propagated from seed. |
| tuberosa Richardsonii | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
0.75 to 1.25 | Vigorous free flowering variety with pure white globular flowers and green sepals. |
| Collosea | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
1.25 to 2.00 | Very large flesh coloured blooms from spring until autumn. |
Nymphaea water lily pink varieties 10 cm = 4 inches, 1 sq metre = 10 sq feet
| Name | Depth of water in cm | Spread in sq m | Colour | Description |
| Amabilis | 60 to 90 or
2 to 3 ft |
0.75 to 1.50 | pink | Salmon pink stellate flowers. Dark green foliage. |
| Fabiola | 50 to 80 or 18 to 28 inch |
0.75 to 1.25 | pink | Large open blooms. Rich pink colour tinged with white. Broad rounded petals with mahogany stamens and deep green foliage. |
| Laydekeri Lilacea | 25 to 50 | 0.75 to 1.00 | pink | Soft rose to carmine fragrant blooms. |
| Laydekeri Lucida | 50 to 80 or 18 to 28 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | pink | Star-shaped pale pink flowers deepening with age. Bronze-maroon marbled markings on olive-green leaves. |
| Marliacea Carnea | 30 to 80 or 12 to 28 inch |
1.00 to 1.25 | pale pink | A free flowering variety. The pinky-white blooms are more notable when the plant has become well established. Also known as 'Morning Glory'. |
| Mrs Richmond | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
1.00 to 1,25 | deep pink | Very large, globe-shaped, deep pink flowers with prolific green foliage. |
| odorata Firecrest | 30 to 50 or 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | deep pink | Fragrant flowers, petals lie widely open, red-tipped stamens stand erect in the centre. |
| odorata William B.Shaw | 50 to 80 or 18 to 28 inch |
0.75 to 1.25 | pink | Cup-shaped pink flowers, fading with age. Reddish foliage. |
| pygmaea Rubra | 10 to 30 or 4 to 12 inch |
0.30 to .040 | deep pink | The flowers are reddish-pink, gradually changing to deeper red. The green foliage has a reddish underside. |
| Rene Gerard | 30 to 80 or 12 to 28 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | deep pink | The free flowering rosy-pink stellate blooms are splashed with crimson. |
| tuberosa Rosea | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.50 to 0.80 | pink | A strong growing variety with medium-sized soft pink flowers and light green leaves. |
Nymphaea water lily rose shades of pink varieties 10 cm = 4 inches, 1 sq metre = 10 sq feet
| Name | Depth of water in cm | Spread in sq m | Colour | Description |
| Solfatare | 25 to 40 or 10 to 16 inch |
0.60 to 0.90 | rose/yellow | Pale yellow flowers flushed with rose. Leaves are mottled with maroon. |
| Laydekeri Rosea | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | rose | Deep rose, cup shaped flowers float flat upon the water throughout summer. |
| Madame Wilfron Gonnere | 60 to 90 | 0.75 to 1.50 | rose-pink | Large double rose-pink flowers. |
| Marliacea Rosea | 30 to 80 or 12 to 28 inch |
1.00 to 1.25 | rose pink | Large fragrant pink flowers intensify towards the centre. Full colouring develops when well established. |
| Masaniello | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
1.00 to 1.25 | deep rose | Vigorous and scented free variety having deep rose blooms. |
| odorata Rosea | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.50 to 1.00 | rose pink | Has been known to grow after being dried out for many years. Rose-pink flowers, deepening towards the centre. |
| odorata Turicensis | 40 to 75 | 1.00 to 1.50 | soft rose | Free-flowering and sweetly scented. |
| Rose Arey | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.50 to 0.75 | rose- pink | Large stellate rose-pink flowers with slightly incurved petals. A fragrant free-flowering variety. |
| Rosennymphe | 30 to 80 or 12 to 28 inch |
0.50 to 0.75 | deep rose | Large deep rose fragrant blooms are produced abundantly throughout the season. |
Nymphaea water lily red varieties 10 cm = 4 inches, 1 sq metre = 10 sq feet
| Name | Depth of water in cm | Spread in sq m | Description |
| Attraction | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
0.75 to 1.25 | Large deep red blooms approximately 15-20 cm across. Frequently flowers pink until well established |
| Charlene de Meurville | 30 to 100 or 1 - 3 ft |
1.00 to 1. 50 | A very prolific variety with large wine coloured blooms up to 25 cm across. |
| Conqueror | 30 to 80 or 12 to 28 inch |
1.00 to 1.50 | Brilliant red flowers darkening towards the centre and flecked with white. |
| Escarboucle | 80 to 120 or 26 to 48 inch |
1.00 to 1.75 | Extremely large crimson blooms. A very prolific lily best suited to deep water. |
| Froebelii | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.50 to 0.75 | Deep red medium sized-flowers. This variety is suitable for small to medium sized pools. |
| James Brydon | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | Rich carmine-red cup-shaped flowers. Maroon colour foliage slightly marked with darker blotches. |
| Laydekeri Fulgens | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | Crimson magenta flowers with orange-red stamens. |
| Laydekeri Purpurata | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | Free flowering, small to medium rosy-crimson blooms, slightly spotted and flecked with white. |
| Maurice Laydekeri | 30 to 50 or 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.25 | Is of poor constitution and rarely seen in cultivation. The flowers are a deep rose-red flecked with white. |
| Vesuve | 50 to 80 or 18 to 28 inch |
0.60 to 0.80 | Large red blooms with slightly mottled foliage. |
| William Falconer | 50 to 80 or 18 to 28 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | Very dark red flowers. The young foliage is red but changes to green with age. |
Nymphaea water lily yellow varieties 10 cm = 4 inches, 1 sq metre = 10 sq feet
| Name | Depth of water in cm | Spread in sq m | Colour | Description |
| Aurora | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.50 to 1.00 | yellow/orange/red | Free flowering, mottled foliage. Opening yellow, become orange the next day, turning dark red by the third. Known as variable. |
| Charlene Strawn | 30 to 80 or 12 to 28 inch |
0.50 to 1.30 | yellow | Hardy lily that holds its flower well above the surface of the water. Excellent bloomer and a prolific grower. |
| Colonel A. J. Welch | 50 to 150 | 0.75 to 1.75 | yellow | Canary yellow flowers stand above the water. The foliage is very prolific. |
| Graziella | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.50 to 0.75 | reddish-yellow | The reddish-yellow blooms become lighter with age. The foliage is heavily mottled with purple. |
| Marliacea Chromatella | 30 to 90 12 to 36 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | yellow | Primrose-yellow blooms with bright yellow stamens. The olive-green foliage is heavily mottled with bronze markings. |
| Moorei | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | yellow | Fine yellow blooms with bright stamens. Heavily spotted green foliage. |
| odorata Sulphurea | 12 to 50 or 5 to 20 inch | 0.50 to 0.75 | yellow | Tuberous rooted variety with purple blotched leaves. Yellow blooms stand above the water. |
| pygmaea Helvola | 10 to 25 or 4 to 10 nch |
0.25 to 0.40 | yellow | Prolific tiny star-shaped soft yellow flowers. The green foliage has maroon blotched and streaks. |
| Paula Harriot | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | copper | Apricot yellow changing to orange-pink. Maroon spotted foliage |
| Sioux | 50 to 80 or
20 to 42 inch |
0.50 to 1.00 | yellow/copper | Flowers open a soft yellow but change to a reddish copper. |
| Sunrise | 30 to 80 or 12 to 28 inch |
0.75 to 1.25 | yellow | A good yellow lily with very large fragrant blooms. The green leaves have a red underside flecked with brown. Better suited indoors. |
Nymphaea water lily orange varieties 10 cm = 4 inches, 1 sq metre = 10 sq feet
| Name | Depth of water in cm | Spread in sq m | Colour | Description |
| Comanche | 30 to 60 0r 12 to 20 inch |
0.75 to 1.00 | orange | Flowers turn to bronze and are held clear of the water. |
| Indiana | 12 to 50 or 5 to 20 inch | 0.50 to 0.75 | orange red | The blooms open orange-red and gradually mature to copper-red. Foliage is heavily spotted with purple. |
Source: Anglo Aquarium Plant catalogue (1993)
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