About
An aquatic perennial with rounded leaves, to 25cm across, slightly-bronzed when young and with a broad, yellow stripe in spring that disappears in summer. The pink, peony-like flowers, to 12cm across, have pale pink outer petals and gold stamens.
About the genus
Nymphaea are rhizomatous, submerged aquatic perennials with floating, rounded leaves and showy, sometimes fragrant, cup- or bowl-shaped flowers in a wide range of colours, held on or above the water and followed by submerged, berry-like fruits
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeClay, Loam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisturePoorly-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeAquatic
HabitSubmerged, Floating
FoliageDeciduous
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in undisturbed water in full sun. Plant in baskets in loamy soil with crowns just below soil surface and covered with pea shingle. Position basket so that it is covered by 15-25cm of water; as the plants establish lower the plants to twice the initial planting depth. Feed during the growing season with aquatic fertiliser at the manufacturer's recommended rate. See waterlily cultivation
PruningDeadhead and remove yellow leaves regularly
PropagationPropagate by division of rhizomes or offsets in summer, place pots in shallow water until established
Pest resistanceSusceptible to waterlily beetle, waterlily aphid, brown china-mark moth and leaf-mining midge
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to crown rot, brown spot and waterlily leaf spot