Water Lilies

Water lilies are rhizomatous aquatic perennial plants with rooted underwater stems. Tropical water lilies can only be grown in heated water or greenhouses in the UK, however 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. White Water Lily Nymphaea Alba is the only native British water lily and grows in medium to large pond sizes with submerged berry-like fruit.

Need help picking?

from £30

Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Xiafei'

Chinese waterlily with little Magenta blooms

Zone 3 - Deep Water
A sun-loving plant
Flowers all summer from June to September
A small waterlily, perfect for more compact ponds

3 options available

from £25

White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Alba'

The only native British Water Lily

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

6 options available

from £25

Long Flowering Water Lily | Nymphaea hollandia 'Darwin'

The softest pink double blooms

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Ideal for a sunny spot
Long summer flowering from June to October
Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

6 options available

from £30

White Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Alba'

Tiny, snowdrop white waterlilies

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Perfect for a sunny pond
Flowers all summer from June to September
Dwarf waterlily, an extra small variety ideal for mini ponds and shallow water features

4 options available

from £30

Yellow Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'

A pond full of stars

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in a sunny spot
Flowers all summer from June to September
Dwarf waterlily, an extra small variety ideal for mini ponds and shallow water features

4 options available

from £25

Large White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Virginalis'

Elegant semi double white blooms

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Grow in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

6 options available

from £25

Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Attraction'

A symphony in rose

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Ideal for sunny ponds
Flowers all summer from June to September
Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

5 options available

from £30

Variable Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Aurora'

Glorious colour changes

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Flowers best in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A small waterlily, perfect for more compact ponds

4 options available

from £25

Flamingo Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Colorado'

Fabulous in Flamingo pink

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Grow in full sun
Late summer flowering from July to October
Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

6 options available

from £60from £90

Best Water Lily Plants for Any Size Pond | Growers' Choice

The finishing touch for a beautiful pond

Zone 3 - deep water plants
Fill your pond with gracefully floating flowers
Our growers' best and brightest lilies for any size of pond
Provides shelter for pondlife and attracts pollinators

3 options available

from £36

Carmine Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'James Brydon'

Award winning red waterlily

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Perfect for a sunny pond
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

2 options available

from £30

Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Perry's Baby Red'

Compact, prolific and vibrant red

Zone 3 - Deep Water
A sun-loving plant
Flowers all summer from June to September
A small waterlily, perfect for more compact ponds

2 options available

from £25

Fragrant Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Odorata Sulphurea'

Showy and sweetly scented

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Grow in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

6 options available

from £36

Large Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Marliacea Carnea'

A classic in pink and white

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
Large waterlily, best for medium to large ponds and lakes

4 options available

from £36

'Almost Black' Water Lily

Dark and sophisticated

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Loves a sunny spot
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

4 options available

from £36

White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Gonnère'

The snowball waterlily

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

4 options available

from £36

Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Perry's Baby Red'

Compact, prolific and vibrant red

Zone 3 - Deep Water
A sun-loving plant
Flowers all summer from June to September
A small waterlily, perfect for more compact ponds

2 options available

from £25

Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Marliacea Chromatella'

Sunshine yellow all summer long

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Flowers best in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

6 options available

from £36

Fragrant Water Lily | Nymphaea odorata 'Firecrest'

A fragrant lily for small to medium ponds

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A small to medium sized waterlily ideal for all sizes of pond

2 options available

from £75

Best Small Pond Plants Collection with a Lily | Grower's Choice

The complete planting scheme for your small pond

Six perfect pond plants chosen by our expert grower
The best variety of colours, heights and types including a water lily
Hardy, easy care perennials
Attractive to bees, butterflies and birds

1 option available

from £36

Fragrant Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Sioux'

Colour changing and highly scented

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in full sun to partial shade
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

2 options available

from £36

Large Double Petal Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Mayla'

Dazzles in fabulous fuchsia

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Ideal for a sunny pond
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

2 options available

from £36

Blush Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Gloire du Temple sur Lot'

Glorious hundred-petalled pink lilies

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

2 options available

from £40

'Black Princess' Water Lily

Stately burgundy tones

Zone 3 - Deep Water
Thrives in full sun
Flowers all summer from June to September
A medium waterlily ideal for middle sized to large ponds.

4 options available

1 - 24 of 43 Products

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!

Need help picking?

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 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

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.

Happy plants make happy customers

Our customers say

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane | 23 October

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden center.

Gavin Wilcock | 8 November

Excellent range of top quality plants at the best prices.

Joseph Doyle | 12 December

Overall extremely happy as you are also very good at keeping the customer fully updated and with excellent email info, video resources & support.

Colette Lorimer | 13 June

Plants arrived in great condition and very promptly. Well established - much better than the ones I got at my local garden centre.

Monica Spence | 24 May

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane | 23 October

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden center.

Gavin Wilcock | 8 November

Excellent range of top quality plants at the best prices.

Joseph Doyle | 12 December

Overall extremely happy as you are also very good at keeping the customer fully updated and with excellent email info, video resources & support.

Colette Lorimer | 13 June

Plants arrived in great condition and very promptly. Well established - much better than the ones I got at my local garden centre.

Monica Spence | 24 May

I continue to be so impressed with Roots. Their customer care, knowledge of their subject: from planting hedges to pruning roses and more, has been a great support.

Judy Lane | 23 October

Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden center.

Gavin Wilcock | 8 November

Excellent range of top quality plants at the best prices.

Joseph Doyle | 12 December

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Water Lilies

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Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Xiafei'

White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Alba'

Long Flowering Water Lily | Nymphaea hollandia 'Darwin'

White Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Alba'

Yellow Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'

Large White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Virginalis'

Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Attraction'

Variable Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Aurora'

Flamingo Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Colorado'

Best Water Lily Plants for Any Size Pond | Growers' Choice

Carmine Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'James Brydon'

Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Perry's Baby Red'

Fragrant Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Odorata Sulphurea'

Large Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Marliacea Carnea'

'Almost Black' Water Lily

White Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Gonnère'

Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Perry's Baby Red'

Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Marliacea Chromatella'

Fragrant Water Lily | Nymphaea odorata 'Firecrest'

Best Small Pond Plants Collection with a Lily | Grower's Choice

Fragrant Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Sioux'

Large Double Petal Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Mayla'

Blush Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Gloire du Temple sur Lot'

'Black Princess' Water Lily

Meet Caroline

Need help picking?

Which water lily?

Water lily planting schemes

Caring for water lilies

Happy plants make happy customers