Tropical Water Lilies (Nymphaea) -
A tropical lily can be the centerpiece for the water garden. They hold
their fragrant blossoms high out of the water and can have several
blooms at a time. The flowers stay open later in the day than the hardy
Lilies and they also bloom later into the season. Tropical Lilies can easily
be distinguished from their hardy Lilies in that the leaves are serrated
or jagged. Tropical Lilies come in day blooming and night blooming
varieties. The day blooming varieties open several hours after sunrise and
stay open until several hours before sunset and some are viviparous
(growing plantlets on their leaves) which indicates they are more cold
tolerant. The night blooming varieties will open an hour or two before
sunset and stay open as late as noon on a cloudy day. Tropical water Lilies
grow best in a generous amount of heavy garden soil. Even the heaviest
clay soils will work fine with the addition of a little sand and fertilizer.
Depth should be maintained between 6" and 18" when first transplanted
and then once established can be grown from 12" to 30" depending on the
variety.
A tropical lily can be the centerpiece for the water garden. They hold
their fragrant blossoms high out of the water and can have several
blooms at a time. The flowers stay open later in the day than the hardy
Lilies and they also bloom later into the season. Tropical Lilies can easily
be distinguished from their hardy Lilies in that the leaves are serrated
or jagged. Tropical Lilies come in day blooming and night blooming
varieties. The day blooming varieties open several hours after sunrise and
stay open until several hours before sunset and some are viviparous
(growing plantlets on their leaves) which indicates they are more cold
tolerant. The night blooming varieties will open an hour or two before
sunset and stay open as late as noon on a cloudy day. Tropical water Lilies
grow best in a generous amount of heavy garden soil. Even the heaviest
clay soils will work fine with the addition of a little sand and fertilizer.
Depth should be maintained between 6" and 18" when first transplanted
and then once established can be grown from 12" to 30" depending on the
variety.
*Note: Tropical lilies can be raised in any climate as long as you
remove them from the water when the weather starts to cool off long
before the first frost. Move them into a greenhouse or use hydroponic
lamps to winter them over. Place back in your pond once the water
temperature gets back up to 65-70 degrees.
remove them from the water when the weather starts to cool off long
before the first frost. Move them into a greenhouse or use hydroponic
lamps to winter them over. Place back in your pond once the water
temperature gets back up to 65-70 degrees.
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