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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  • Colorado Water Lily | Nymphaea Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    Flamingo Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Colorado'

    Fabulous in flamingo pink

    • Showstopping flowers with a subtle fragrance
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow 'Colorado' in a fully sunny spot
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • James Brydon Water Lily | Nymphaea Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Carmine Red Water Lily | Nymphaea 'James Brydon'

    Award-winning, red superstar

    • Carmine red flowers and maroon-flecked leaves
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Loves the sun (don't we all?)
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Red Water Lily | Nymphaea Perry's Baby Red Pond Plants
    From £30
    From £30

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

    Compact, prolific and vibrant

    • Punchy blooms in reddish pink
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Place this water lily in full sun
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Nymphaea Odorata sulphurea | Water Lily Pond Plants
    From £25
    From £25

    Fragrant Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Odorata Sulphurea'

    Showy and sweetly-scented

    • Lovely fragrant, yellow blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Full sun will see best growth
    • As tough as its blooms are beautiful!

    Currently out of stock

  • Best Small Pond Plants Collection with a Lily | Grower's Choice Pond Plants
    £75
    £75

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

    The ideal mini pond plant scheme

    • A fabulous selection of different pond plants
    • Zones 1 to 3 - Pondside to deep water
    • A spot in full sunshine is best
    • Attractive to bees, butterflies and birds

    Currently out of stock

  • Large Double Petal Water Lily | Nymphaea Mayla Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Double Petal Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Mayla'

    Dazzles in fabulous fuchsia

    • Powerful pink blooms and lush green leaves
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Ideal for a sunny pond
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Black Princess Water Lily Pond Plants
    From £40
    From £40

    'Black Princess' Water Lily

    Stately burgundy tones

    • Wine-red blooms with real intensity
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Thrives in a pond in sunshine
    • RHS Award of Garden Merit winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Water Lily | Nymphaea Wanvisa Pond Plants
    From £40
    From £40

    Variegated Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Wanvisa'

    No two flowers are the same!

    • Spectacular multicoloured flowers
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in a fully sunny spot
    • 2010 Best New Waterlily winner

    Currently out of stock

  • Water Lily 'Gloire du Temple sur Lot' | Nymphaea | 3L Pot Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

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

    Up to 100 petals per flower!

    • Showy, fully double flowers in powder pink
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Appreciates a sunny position
    • Long-flowering from June through to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Yellow Water Lily | Nuphar lutea Pond Plants
    From £18
    From £18

    Yellow Water Lily | Nuphar lutea

    Scented, floating buttercups

    • Fragrant yellow, cupped blooms on stalks
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Thrives in full sun or partial shade
    • Flowers from June to August

    Currently out of stock

  • Water Lily | Nymphaea Lemon Mist Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Lemon Mist'

    The centrepiece for a sunny pond

    • Bold lemon and soft butter hues
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Grow in full sun
    • Free-flowering with gently-perfumed blooms

    Currently out of stock

  • Water Lily | Nymphaea Mrs Richmond Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Mrs Richmond'

    Stunning water lilies all summer

    • Pastel pink petals maturing to deeper magenta
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Prefers full sunshine
    • Free-flowering from June to September

    Currently out of stock

  • Large Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea Rose Arey Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Pink Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Rose Arey'

    A pink star for larger ponds

    • Stunning star-shaped, pink blooms
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Plant in full sun for the best flowers
    • Robust, floriferous and long-blooming

    Currently out of stock

  • Dwarf Water Lily 'Solfatare' | Nymphaea | 3L Pot Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Solfatare'

    A different colour every day...

    • From yellow, to orange, to red, to pink!
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Full sun is best (tolerates part shade)
    • Attractive mottled foliage

    Currently out of stock

  • Dwarf Water Lily 'Snow Princess' | Nymphaea | 2L Pot Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Snow Princess'

    Ideal for miniature ponds!

    • Adorable blooms in snow white and yellow
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Ideal for a sunny pond
    • Free-flowering and vigorous

    Currently out of stock

  • Fragrant Water Lily 'Pink Peony' | Nymphaea | 3L Pot Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Fragrant Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Pink Peony'

    Bright pink & perfectly perfumed

    • Bold pink shades and bright yellow stamens
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Prefers a sunny pond
    • Alluring, peony-shaped flowers

    Currently out of stock

  • Water Lily 'Colonel A J Welch' | Nymphaea | 3L Pot Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Yellow Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Colonel A.J. Welch'

    One of the hardiest water lilies

    • Wonderfully contrasting flowers and foliage
    • Zone 3 - Deep water
    • Likes full sun
    • Helps prevent algal buildups

    Currently out of stock

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?

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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