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.

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  • Large Water Lily | Nymphaea Paul Hariot Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Large Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Paul Hariot'

    Apricot to orange-pink blooms

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

    4 options available

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  • Water Lily | Nymphaea Albatross Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Albatross'

    Lightly fragrant lily with colour changing leaves

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

    2 options available

    Trustpilot
  • Water Lily | Nymphaea marliacea 'Albida' | 3L Pot Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Marliacea Albida'

    The fragrant, free flowering classic

    • 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

    Trustpilot
  • Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea Xiafei Pond Plants
    From £30
    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

    Currently out of stock

  • White Dwarf Water Lily | Nymphaea Pygmaea alba Pond Plants
    From £36
    From £36

    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

    2 options available

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

    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 red

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

    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

    • 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.

    Currently out of stock

  • Black Princess Water Lily Pond Plants
    From £40
    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.

    Currently out of stock

  • Fragrant Water Lily 'Sioux' | Nymphaea | 3L Pot Pond Plants
    From £36
    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.

    Currently out of stock

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

    Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Mrs Richmond'

    Long lasting lily flowers all summer long

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Grow in full sun
    • Free flowering from June to September
    • Ideal for medium to large ponds

    Currently out of stock

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

    Magenta Water Lily | Nymphaea 'Vesuve'

    Large magenta lilies with a delicate scent

    • 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.

    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!

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Thrives in full sun to partial shade
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • A small to medium waterlily ideal for all sizes of ponds.

    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 mini ponds

    • Zone 3 - Deep Water
    • Thrives in full sun
    • Flowers all summer from June to September
    • A dwarf waterlily perfect for patio ponds, containers and water features

    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 and beautifully perfumed

    • 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.

    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'

    A splash of yellow for sunny ponds

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

    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.

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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
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Yet again this company delivered good healthy plants, exactly as shown in photos, well packaged and within delivery time quoted. Recommend!

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| 2 Jun
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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 Oct
E 'Black Hamburgh' Indoor Grape Vine Soft Fruit
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The plant arrived looking vigorously healthy, which brings a smile to your face, extremely well protected in its packaging.

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| 5 Jul
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As a non-gardener, I found my whole experience brilliant. Great information & advice available on the website, great range of products & prices are brilliant.

John-Paul

| 22 May
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Wonderful plants and great customer service... really surprised to find that the plants are better than those you would get at your local garden centre.

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| 8 Nov

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