Water Lilies

Water lilies are aquatic perennial plants with rooted underwater stems. In the UK, most Nymphaea water lilies are hardy and don't require winter covering. If you're looking for a container pond centre-piece, dwarf and miniature water lilies are ideal, otherwise most water lilies grow to several meters wide. And boy are those blooms bloomin' lovely... 

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Enfield

Meet Caroline

A deep dive into sustainable gardening

Nestled amongst wildlife meadows and resident ducks, Caroline’s award winning pond plant nursery in Enfield has been making a splash since 1965, when they invented the (recycled, obvs) aquatic basket. Sixty years and multiple RHS gold medals later, they’re still surprising us with new varieties every year!

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Which water lily?

Which water lily?

There are a huge number of water lilies out there, and these floating flowerers make an excellent addition to any pond garden – there’s a reason Monet painted so many! If you’ve got a large pond, then you’ll have the room for bigger varieties like 'Marliacea Carnea' and 'Gladstoniana', while small ponds (and container/tub ponds) will benefit from more compact, diminutive varieties like 'Pygmaea Helvola' and ‘Perry’s Baby Red’. For the showiest blooms, choose ‘Gloire du Temple-sur-Lot', whose flowers can have up to 100 petals! And if you want your pond to smell nice and fragrant, then we’d recommend 'Odorata Sulphurea'.

Water lily planting schemes

Water lily planting schemes

Water lilies are at their most impactful when given a lush foliage foil against which their blooms can really shine. Water lettuce is the ideal plant for this purpose, its rich green rosettes floating serenely on the pond surface and providing a green canvas for the Nymphaea flowers. Consider planting water hawthorn to extend your pond’s floral display from solely summer to multiple seasons. Finally, the addition of some marginal pond grasses can help visually frame the pond and the water lilies it supports.

Caring for water lilies

Caring for water lilies

For your water lilies to flourish, they need still water (so no streams, we’re afraid) and a fully sunny position (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day). Plant your water lilies in aquatic baskets to help keep them secure and the soil in place. Your water lilies will benefit from an annual feed every spring with slow-release aquatic fertiliser. If your pond is small and accessible, it’s also worth deadheading spent flowers to prevent them rotting in the water. Only do this if it’s safe to do so, however.

Water Lilies FAQs

How do you look after water lilies?

Water lilies need a spot in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day) in still water. Plant your water lily in aquatic compost in an aquatic basket. Place a layer of gravel or rocks on top of the compost to help weigh down and anchor the plant. Hungry plants, feed your water lilies with slow-release aquatic fertiliser tablets, pushed down into the soil, each spring. If safe and convenient, remove spent flowers as and when you see them.

What water lilies suit small ponds?

There are a few dwarf water lily cultivars suitable for growing in small ponds and even micro container ponds. ‘Pygmaea Helvola’ and ‘Pygmaea Alba’ are our two picks. Do water lilies come back each year?

Can water lilies grow in just water?

While they might look like they’re free-floating, water lilies need to have their roots anchored into a substrate like aquatic soil/compost in order for them to grow.

Are water lilies high-maintenance?

Not at all! Water lilies are nice and easy to look after once established. Just feed as outlined above and deadhead when appropriate.

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