Hardy Water Lilies (Nymphaea spp. & cvs)

Hardy water lilies can be grown from cool to warm climates and requires at least 3-4 hours of sunlight per day and flowers between October and April in Australia. Water lilies will NOT grow well in ponds/water features where there is fast moving or splashing water on their leaves. Should given some fertiliser tablets during their growing months in Spring and Summer to encourage flowering (especially when they are growing in pots). Sold in the form of barerooted rhizomes. (NOTE: Some older/vintage cultivars and species are no longer listed for sale on our website, but are still available sometimes upon request.) More water lilies are listed under the Plant Collections section

To make it easier for plant selection, hardy water lilies have be divided into the following 6 groups (Small & Miniature, White & Cream, Pink & Deep Rose, Red & Crimson, Yellow and Bi-Colour & Changeable) based on colours and growth habit:

Pot Luck Water Lilies

These the water lilies comes in a mix of colours (white, pink, red, yellow & changeable). They are medium to large size water lilies at a special price for the budget concious buyer.

Nymphaea - Unknown Hardy ('Pot Luck' Hardy Water Lily ) Colour unknown. These were originally named cultivars, but unfortunately the labels have been lost, so we are selling them at a greatly reduced price. Excellent for budget landscaping or large dam plantings if the buyer is not concerned with flower colours. Photo displayed are a guide only. Not for WA. Sold in the form of rhizomes of variable sizes. Whilst stocks last.

AUD $9.50 each

Small & Miniature Water Lilies

These water lilies are suitable for small tubs in balcony/rooftop gardens, small ponds/water features and any shallower water areas. They are smaller in leaf spread, hence, coverage is less when compared with a standard size water lily. Growth tip of the plant could be submerged between 15cms to 30cms below the water surface.

Nymphaea 'Lemon Chiffon' (Hardy Water Lily) (Strawn, 1997) Small globular creamy yellow flowers. Petals are broad and rounded at tips. Oval green leaves splashed and sprinkled with brown patterns. Very compact in growth, smaller in spread when compared to Marliacea Chromatella. Slow to propagate, hence limited supply.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Mary Patricia' (Hardy Water Lily) (Johnson, 1930) An old variety not common in cultivation. Very attractive cup shaped peach blossom pink flowers. Petals are more rounded. Golden yellow stamens. Leaves deep green occasionally blotched with purplish maroon.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Perry's Baby Red' (Hardy Water Lily) (Slocum, 1983) Eye-catching deep red cup shaped flowers. Leaves initially purplish-brown maturing into medium green colour. A reliable grower.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Phoebus' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1909) Cute flowers opening cup-shaped light cream colour deepening to orange-red towards the centre with age. Oval green leaves heavily speckled with brown. Rare. This is the true cultivar form not the mislabelled lily with lighter coloured flowers offered under this name.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'pygmaea Helvola' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1879) The smallest yellow water lily hybrid. Gentle yellow star shaped flowers. Green leaves. heavily speckled purplish-brown. A reliable bloomer.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea odorata var. minor (Hardy Water Lily) Small starry white sweetly scented flowers. Dark to medium green leaves. Suitable for both medium ponds to small water features.

Currently Not Available

White & Cream Water Lilies

These white/cream coloured water lilies are suitable for medium to larger ponds or even farm dams. They require a much larger water surface area for their leaf spread, hence, coverage is more when compared with small/miniature size water lilies. Growth tip of the plant could be submerged between 20cms to 40cms below the water surface. Any deeper than 40cms the plant may not flower or grow properly.

Nymphaea 'Gonnère' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1914) Exceptional double snow-ball white flowers. Round light green leaves with lobes overlapping at leaf sinus. More of a medium to large growing water lily.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Tuberosa Maxima' (Hardy Water Lily) (Boivin, c.1900) Large elegant semi-double pure white flowers with pointy petal tips and wide petal base. Huge bright round green leaves. Requires large areas to establish and flower well. Excellent for planting in dams or large ponds where it could form a nice clump. Gentle sweet fragrance.

Currently Not Available

Pink & Deep Rose Hardy Water Lilies

These pink/deep rose coloured water lilies are suitable for medium to larger ponds or even farm dams. They require a much larger water surface area for their leaf spread, hence, coverage is more when compared with small/miniature size water lilies. Growth tip of the plant could be submerged between 20cms to 40cms below the water surface. Any deeper than 40cms the plant may not flower or grow properly.

Nymphaea 'Formosa' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1909) A classic old fashioned hybrid with light pink deepening at the centre and lighter pink to white on the outer petals. Medium green leaves.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'James Brydon' (Hardy Water Lily) (Dreer, 1899) Beautiful cup shaped deep reddish-pink flowers with apple-like fragrance. Purplish-dark green circular leaves occasionally splashed with purple.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Rose Arey' (Hardy Water Lily) (Fowler, 1913) Beautiful and starry deep rich pink flowers. Round green leaves initially purplish. Prefers climate with very cold winter to develop it's real deep colour. Sweet fragrance. Uncommon.

AUD $40.00 each

Nymphaea 'Rosennymphe' (Hardy Water Lily) (Junge, 1911) Elegant starry pink flowers that fades to almost white with age. This is the true form with dark green leaves and a wide open leaf sinus to give almost heart shaped leaves. An import from Germany. Unfortunately, there is a mislabelled pink to white flowering water lily currently sold under this plant name (both in Australia and overseas).

AUD $30.00 each

Red & Crimson Hardy Water Lilies

These red/crimson coloured water lilies are suitable for medium to larger ponds or even farm dams. They require a much larger water surface area for their leaf spread, hence, coverage is more when compared with small/miniature size water lilies. Growth tip of the plant could be submerged between 20cms to 40cms below the water surface. Any deeper than 40cms the plant may not flower or grow properly.

Nymphaea 'Black Princess' (Hardy Water Lily) (Slocum, 1998) A very beautiful water lily with dark red to near black colour. The darkest colour ever achieved in hardy water lilies. Flowers are double and with up to 38 petals. Leaves are deep brown turning to dark green with age. A medium to large grower that requires to develop a colony before producing an abudance of flowers. Flower colour usually deepens after the plant establishes in the second season. A hybrid by Perry Slocum. Rare.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Conqueror' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1910) Huge flowers with beautiful inner petals red blending to pink towards outer petals which are flecked white. Large green leaves. An exceptional old cultivar that is very free blooming. This is the true form of this cultivar that has been in our collection for many years. Uncommon.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Gloriosa' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1896) An excellent & reliable bloomer. Classic old fashioned water lily with attractive deep eye-catching red flowers. Dark green leaves initially splashed purple. A medium sized water lily that would also adapt to smaller ponds or tubs.

AUD $30.00 each

Nymphaea 'Mrs. Richmond' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1910) Beautiful broad petalled or rounded wide petals with inner petals pinkish-red deepening with age. The flowers are a more open cup shape. Large green leaves with slight wavy edges. The water lily cultivar "Fabiola" is sometimes sold under this name, but "Fabiola" is a much more commonly available hybrid. Rare.

AUD $35.00 each

Yellow Hardy Water Lilies

These yellow coloured water lilies are suitable for medium to larger ponds or even farm dams. They require a much larger water surface area for their leaf spread, hence, coverage is more when compared with small/miniature size water lilies. Growth tip of the plant could be submerged between 20cms to 40cms below the water surface. Any deeper than 40cms the plant may not flower or grow properly.

Nymphaea 'Charlene Strawn' (Hardy Water Lily) (Strawn, 1981) Yellow flowers that opens flat like a plate on tall stems high above the water surface. Near-round green leaves speckled with purplish-brown.

AUD $45.00 each

Nymphaea 'Colonel A. J. Welch' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1929) Bright yellow starry flowers. Green leaves initially speckled with purplish-brown. Produces an abundance of leaves that occasionally provides good coverage in ponds over winter in some climate. Great for dam plantings. Flowers well only after it has established. Usually grown for the novelty of the plant being viviparous. Rare.

Currently Not Available

Nymphaea 'Joey Tomocik' (Hardy Water Lily) (Strawn, 1993) A more recent release with very attractive bright yellow flowers with petals that has a wide base. Flower colour intensifies as the plant establishes in the pond. Leaves are mottled and splashed with chestnut brown colour. Lemon-like fragrance. Rare.

AUD $45.00 each

Nymphaea 'Moorei' (Hardy Water Lily) (Adelaide Botanic Gardens, 1885) Medium yellow flowers. Green leaves with tiny reddish speckles. The first ever Australian hybrid.

AUD $30.00 each

Bi-Colour & Changeable Hardy Water Lilies

These bi-coloured or changeable coloured water lilies are suitable for medium to larger ponds or even farm dams. They require a much larger water surface area for their leaf spread, hence, coverage is more when compared with small/miniature size water lilies. Growth tip of the plant could be submerged between 20cms to 40cms below the water surface. Any deeper than 40cms the plant may not flower or grow properly.

Nymphaea 'Comanche' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1908) An old favourite with beautiful creamy apricot flowers deepening to deep rusty red colour with age. Green leaves initially speckled with deep maroon.

AUD $30.00 each

Nymphaea 'Sioux' (Hardy Water Lily) (Latour-Marliac, 1908) Beautiful star-like creamy apricot flowers deepening to apricot orange colour with age. Oval shaped green leaves speckled and mottled maroon.

Currently Not Available

Code explanations:
= Tolerant of cold temperate climate
= Tolerant of tropical climate
= Tolerant of temperate & sub-tropical climate
= Frost Sensitive - may not survive in climate subjected to frost
= Full Shade or Indirect Sunlight
= Full Sun
= Part Sun & Part Shade
= Small growing - Suitable for small size water gardens or tub style water features
= Medium growing - Suitable for medium size water gardens
= Large growing - Suitable for large size water gardens or naturalizing in dams
= Great as cut flowers
= Native to Australia