Water Garden Plants » Hardy Water Lillies

HARDY WATER LILIES:

Lily pads rest on the water surface (when crowded some pads rise slightly above the water). They are attached to the rhizome via long stems. In hardy lilies these pads are mostly all green, some varieties have light mottling and new leaves of many hybrids emerge with a red color.

The flowers, which appear in summer, also float on the surface, some hybrids have flowers that will rise a few inches above the water. Flower colors in hardy lilies include white, yellow, pink, peach, red, and variations of each. Hardy lilies go dormant in the winter and return in the spring provided that the rhizome did not freeze.

Hardy lilies generally do best when placed with the crown of the plant around 12" below the water's surface.

Below we have put together a wide variety of plants with pictures and a short description to help you find the type of plants you are seeking.

Nymphaea American Star

Star-Shaped, pink flowers.

Long narrow petals, pleasant fragrance, profuse bloomer.

Nymphaea Attraction

Rich garnet blossoms. Largest of the red hardy lilies. Flower is cuplike then starlike. Slightly fragrant. A very popular choice. Excellant cut flowers.

Nymphaea Berit Strawn

Speckled pads, free flowering light orange cup-shaped flowers, for small to medium ponds.

Nymphaea Charlene Strawn

Yellow star-shaped blooms. Pads are green. Very sweet fragrance. Excellent cut flower. Long blooming season. Tolerates partial shade.

Nymphaea Chromatella

Small soft yellow cup shaped flowers. Green mottled leaves. Good fragrant bloomer. Tolerates partial shade

Nymphaea Colorado

Extremely free flowering. Flower is salmon in color. New foliage is mottled fading to green with maturity. Long blooming season.

Nymphaea Comanche

Blossoms open yellow and turn to coppery bronze. Speckled foliage. Flower shape is cuplike then starlike. Very pleasant fragrance. Tolerates partial shade.

Nymphaea Dallas

Soft pink blossoms. Flower shape is starlike. Lightly mottled foliage. Extremely fragrant.

Nymphaea Ellisiana

Very free flowering. Brilliant red petals. Green foliage. Full star flower shape. Noticeable fragrance. Excellent for tub gardens and small ponds.

Nymphaea Escarboucle

Very free flowering. Crimson cuplike blooms become starlike as they mature. Blooms stay open until late afternoon.

Nymphaea Fabiola

Very free flowering. Peony-style blooms are large and rich pink with broad petals. Foliage is deep green. Pleasant fragrance. Very adaptable. Long blooming.

Nymphaea Gloriosa

Free blooming cup-like bright red flowers and lush green foliage. Very adaptable to any size pond.

Nymphaea Gonnere

Large double, ball shaped, pure white flowers with light pink center. Pleasant fragrance. Makes an excellent cut flower.

Nymphaea Hollandia

Large, double, soft pink, peony-style flowers. Slightly fragrant, excellent cut flower

Nymphaea Indiana

Very free flowering. Petals are apricot then apricot-orange then deep orange-red. Flower shape is cuplike then wide open. Green foliage. Very slight fragrance.

Nymphaea James Brydon

Deep red cup shaped flowers. Broad petals curve inward. Pads are bronze. Sweet apple scent. Tolerates partial shade.

Nymphaea Joanne Pring

Tiny deep pink flowers. Wide petals with the tips lighter in color. Dark green foliage 2-3” in diameter. Slight fragrance.

Nymphaea Joey Tomocik

A great bloomer with rich lemon-yellow blossoms. Softly mottled foliage.

Nymphaea Mayla

Large, double fuschia flowers. A great bloomer, good for medium to large ponds.

Nymphaea Odorata Minima

 Large, brilliant white blossoms with green foliage. Sweetly scented.

Nymphaea Perry's Fire Opal

Rich pink, double flowers. Green foliage. Flower shape is peony-style. Delightful fragrance. Great for small pools

Nymphaea Perry’s Baby Red

Very free flowering red cup-shaped blossoms. Slight fragrance. Excellent for tub garden and small pools.

Nymphaea Pink Sunrise

Nymphaea Queen of Whites

Very free flowering. Flower shape is cuplike, petals starlike. green foliage. Mild fragrance.

Nymphaea Red Spider

Nymphaea Rembrandt

Garnet red blooms, white sepals and dark green foliage. A strong growing hybrid.

Nymphaea Sioux

Nymphaea Sulphurea

 Free blooming, lemon yellow flowers, pads slightly marbled. Flower shape is cup-like then star-like. Quite sweet fragrance, tolerates partial shade. Good for any size pond.

Nymphaea Sunrise

Giant canary yellow blossoms. Petals are long, narrow and curve inward slightly. Leaves are dark green. Flower shape is starlike. Slightly fragrant.

Nymphaea Texas Dawn

Nymphaea Virginia

Lovely off-white star shaped blossoms. Green foliage. Excellent bloomer. Tolerates partial shade.

Nymphaea Walter Pagels

Creamy white flowers and lush foliage. Good for tub gardens and small ponds.