What are water lilies (nymphaea)?
Top Probably the most popular pond plant. Hybridization has produced hundreds of cultivars; sizes range from dwarf to the giant Victoria lilies whose leaves can exceed 30″ in diameter. Water lilies have round leaves (“pads”) in solid green or variegated with hues of red/pink/bronze that float on the water’s surface. Blooms open during the day and close at night, except for blooms on the night-blooming tropicals which do the opposite. Blooms last up to 5 days and generally appear from May or June through October, although the season can vary quite a bit depending on your weather. Flower colors range from pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, whites, and for tropicals, lavender and blue. Some cultivars sport multi-colored blossoms. All water lilies need plenty of sun for best results (though blooms may slow during extremely hot weather), and in turn help screen the pond to limit algae growth. Water lilies do best in large containers in somewhat shallow, still water. Use supports in deeper ponds
