Description
Nymphaea – Waterlily –
There are about 50 species of evergreen and deciduous herbaceous, submerged aquatic perennial in this genus. They occur worldwide and are grown for their showy, sometimes fragrant flowers and floating leaves. Waterlilis have horizontal or upright rhizomes or stoloniferous tubers, and broadly ovate to rounded, floating leaves, each leaflet cleft into 2 lobed, with a basal sinus and a long leaf stalk. The mostly white, yellow, pink, red, flowers are borne in summer, each have 4 sepals and numerous narrow petals and stamens. Berry like fruits, with many seeds, mature under water,
These waterlilies listed are usually day blooming and bear floating flowers.
Waterlilies are a decorative addition to any pool, and shade of their leaves is useful in reducing algae growth.
Grow in undisturbed water in full sun. In spring plant in firm, loamy soil, insert the rhizomes just under the surface and cover with washed pea gravel or coarse sand. Submerge fleshy planted containers so that 6-10″ of water covers the young crowns, either temporarily lowering water level or by raising the containers on brick plinths. For small rhizomes, reduce the depth to 3″, increase to 20″ for the largest rhizomes. Once plants are established, gradually increase the water depth above the crowns to twice the initial planting depth. Contain vigorous waterlilies in an aquatic container, or in a constructed, permanent planting station, about 3′ feet across and 18″ deep. During active growth, feed container grown waterlilies with commercial aquatic fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Remove yellow leaves and deadhead regularly. Divide establish plant, whose leaves thrust vertically above the water surface, to maintain flowering.
Prone to brown china-mark moth, false leaf mining midge, waterlily beetle, waterlily aphid, brown spot, crown rot, and waterlily leaf spot.
N. odorata – Pond Lily – White Waterlily – This hardy waterlily from Northeastern USA grows 4-6′ feet wide. It produces ovate to rounded, leathery, glossy, mid green leaves, 6-12″ across, with open sinuses. It bears day blooming, cup shaped or later star shaped, fragrant, many petaled white flowers, 4-9″ across, have yellow stamens.
Zones 3-11
