NYMPHAEA – WATER LILIES

Claude Monet’s water lily paintings probably fostered a hope that one day I would have a lily pond in my garden.  However I never imagined that there would be such a variety of water lilies!  A pond adds magic to a garden and this is enhanced by the gorgeous round floating leaves and beautiful blooms.  Each flower lasts around four days with a succession of flowers opening sequentially throughout summer.  Few other plants can match their long flowering season  and variety of colours, from pristine white through peach, yellow, red, magenta,  pink, purple and blue.  Naturally the bees love them!

Water lilies help keep a pond healthy; the shade they provide helps shelter fish and keep the water looking clear by preventing algae from growing.  Algae however is an ongoing problem with water gardens.

Water lilies can also be grown in large containers or tubs.

Hardy water lilies are the first plants of the season. The flowers open in the morning and close after sunset, usually lasting three or four days before sinking back beneath the surface. The flowers appear from spring to autumn and go dormant in the winter.  These rhizomes can be left in the water in winter.

Tropical water lilies are more striking – they have longer stems, which look even more exotic when in bloom. Their flowers are larger and more prolific.  They also include the night blooming varieties which bloom from mid-afternoon to late morning.   Tropical water lilies need a water temperature above 20°C.  The tubers can / should  be taken out of the water in winter.

Water lilies require a minimum depth of at least 15cm (up to one metre) of water above the growing tip of the plant, as well as six hours of direct sunlight to sustain maximum growth and flowering.  All water lilies go dormant in winter.

Once you have purchased your water lilies it is good practice to pop them into bigger pots.  This will increase the size of both the leaves and the blooms.  Use a good soil mixture which consists of 3 parts sifted garden soil to 1 part well-rotted cow manure.  Add 1/8 cup of bone meal per 5 litres of soil mix.

It is important to feed regularly - they are heavy feeders.  I use an organic fertilizer.  Once a month we make an opening in the side of the pot with a probe and add about one Tablespoon of organic fertilizer. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT WATER LILIES ARE SOLD OUT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - POSSIBLY OCTOBER 2024. 

Nymphaea - Almost Black

A vigorous water lily with large green pads from 16 to 20 cm in diameter, and dark red flowers which...

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Black princess

Water lily Black princess

An medium sized waterlily with red leaves and 10cm cerise red flowers. Blooms well....

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Clyde Ikins

An medium sized waterlily with green pads red leaves and large petalled 12cm yellowy apricot flowers...

R180.00


CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK

Nymphaea - Colorado

Waterlily

An medium sized waterlily with green pads red leaves and large petalled salmon star shaped flowers. ...

R150.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Colossea

Waterlily Colossea

A vigorous with water lily with large lily pads. 14cm Flowers white with a pink tinge. ...

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Lemon mist

Water lily - Lemon mist

Floriferous water lily with mottled greenleaves and 14cm pale yellow flowers. ...

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Madame Wilfred Gonnere

A water lily with peony type double rich pink petals....

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Monkey wedding

Water lily Monkey wedding

One of my favourites. Floriferous pale blue with yellow stamens....

R150.00


CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK

Nymphaea - Perrys double white

Well formed pure white 15cm flowers with yellow stamens. I have Albatros and Perry's double white i...

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Perrys double yellow

Waterlily Perrys double yellow

A vigorous water lily with speckled green pads and scented double lush dark yellow flowers. 15cm f...

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Pink beauty

Pink waterlily

Attractive green foliage with large scented semi double cup shaped pink blooms....

R150.00


CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK

Nymphaea - Pink Grapefruit

Water lily Pink Grapefruit

A large, 15cm peachy-pink blossom that stands above the water's surface. Pink Grapefruit is free flo...

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea - Walter Pagels

A miniature cultivar with flowers to 7cm across comprising white petals tinged with soft pink surrou...

R180.00


View Buy now

Nymphaea lotus

Night flowering white water lily

Large multi-petaled night flowering white waterlily with large green leaves. ...

R200.00


CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK

Nymphaea lotus hybird

Night flowering pink water lily

Large multi-petaled pink waterlily with large maroon leaves. ...

R200.00


View Buy now