Water Lilies: Pond Plant Group
Water
Lilies-
Other Names ( None)
Roots submerged, leaves on the surface and flowers on or above the
surface.
One genus only (Nymphaea) but there are many hardy species and varieties
in nearly every color. Not harmed by winter cold unless water is frozen solid.
Tropical Water Lilies are not suitable for outdoors as year-round warm nights
are necessary. Useful for keeping water clear and the fish cool in summer.
Depending on the variety, the recommended planting depth is 4 in.- 3ft -
most flourish at 9 in. 1-1/2 ft. Choose a spot in full sun and away from
moving water produced by a fountain or waterfall.
The Water Lily is the unchallenged Queen of aquatic plants, and every pond
owner either has or wants one. The value of the hardy Water Lily lies not
only in the beauty of it's cup-shaped or star-shaped blooms - the round of
heart-shaped leaves ('pads') help to keep the fish happy and the water
clear.
It is a fascinating plant with a number of surprises for all and in equal
number of pitfalls for the novice. The first surprise for the beginner is
the enormous range of flower size, leaf size, leaf spread and planting depth.
The Dwarfs (miniatures) with 1 in. wide leaves covering about 1 sq. ft of
pond surface and bearing medal-sized flowers are an excellent choice for
a minipond made from a half-barrel. At the other end of the scale there are
the Vigorous varieties with leaves measuring more than 8 in. across which
blanket 50 sq. ft or more and produce blooms the size of dinner plates.
The golden rule is never to buy a Water Lily just because the picture looks
nice and it costs less than the others on display. You should measure the
size of your pond surface and then aim to buy one or more specimens with
an anticipated total spread of no more then half of the pond surface. And
never be guided by the price - the ones which are far too vigorous for the
average pond actually cost less then the more compact ones which do not look
value for money.
To make selections easier it is usual to group Water Lilies into a small
number of types - Dwarf, Medium etc. All you have to do is choose the Type
with the right planting depth and anticipate spread for you needs and then
find a variety in that type with a shape and color which you find attractive.
The time of flowering does not come into the selection as all Water Lilies
behave more or less the same. Blooming starts in June and the flowers appear
in succession until September. Each bloom opens from late morning to late
afternoon and lasts for about four days.
Now for one of the surprises. Most of the scores of varieties on offer today
came from the breeding work of a Frenchman - M. Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac.
The first one apears in 1877 but unfortunately his secret died with him in
1911. Because of this the majority of the Water Lily varieties in the catalogues
are more than 80 years old. New American varieties are now beginning to appear,
but Latour-Marliac hybrids still dominate.
Now for planting rules. May and June are the best months and you will need
a sunny spot and still water. Remove old leaves from the rootstock and trim
back the fibrous roots. Plant firmly so the crown is just protruding above
the surface. Submerge the basket so that the young leaves float on the surface
- gradually lower to the final depth as the leaves grow. This may take several
months.
There are two reasons why leaves may grow well above the surface. The first
cause is that the water is too shallow - the other cause is that the plant
needs repotting in new soil and perhaps a larger basket. This is to be expected
three or four years after planting.
Unfortunately
this division into Types and the naming of Water Lilies are not as
straightforward as they sound. The final spread depends on many factors and
the figures given in the catalogue are only a guide - Water Lilies do not
fall neatly into groups and so can't easily be pigeonholed.
Type |
Depth |
Spread |
Cover |
Flower
Size |
DWARF |
4-10
in. |
1-2
ft |
1-3
sq. ft |
2-4
in. |
SMALL |
6
in. - 1-1/2 ft |
2-4
ft |
3-12
sq. ft |
4-6
in. |
MEDIUM |
1-2
ft |
4-5
ft |
12-20
sq. ft |
6-7
in. |
VIGOROUS |
1-1/2
- 3ft |
5-8
ft |
20-50
sq. ft |
7-10
in. |
The
color range is large - only black, purple, pure blue and green are missing.
The Changeables alter with age, deepening from cream or yellow to orange
or red.
Propagation:
Lift the plant in early summer and take it out of the basket. Remember that
it will have to be replanted at the same angle, so note whether it is growing
vertically or horizontally.
Wash the mud off the rhizome and remove all old leaves and some of the thick
roots. Place on a polythene sheet and make sure the plant never dries out
- sprinkle occasionally with watering can.
Use a sharp knife to remove eyes (tiny plants with small leaves) - dust cut
surfaces with sulphur. Plant eyes in small pots filled with loam - lace pots
in a bowl and fill with water so that the soil surface is about 1 in. below
the water level. Leave outdoors during summer and place in greenhouse or
cold frame over winter.
Next spring the young Water Lilies will be ready for planting in backets
and then transferring to the pond. You will have to wait another year before
the new plants reach flowering size.
The lifted plant from which the eyes were taken can also be used for propagation.
Break off or cut away young and vigorous rooted segments which should be
4-8 in. long. Plant these cuttings as instructed on the
Planting
Page; vertically or horizontally as appropriate.
Nymphaea
pygmaea
'Helvola' |
Nymphaea
'James Brydon' |
Nymphaea
'Sioux' |
Nymphaea
'Froebeli' |
Nymphaea
'Peter Slocum' |
Nymphaea
'Moorei' |
Nymohaea
Marliacea
'Rosea' |
Nymphaea
'Escarboucle' |
Nymphaea
tuberosa
'Richardsonii' |
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