Create Your Garden

Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily)

White Water Lily, White Waterlily, Bobbins, Cambie Leaf, Can Dock, Common Water Lily, European White Lily, Flutterdock, Platter Dock, Hardy Nymphaea

Nymphaea alba, White Water Lily, White Waterlily, Bobbins, Cambie Leaf, Can Dock, Common Water Lily, European White Lily, Flutterdock, Platter Dock
Nymphaea alba, White Water Lily, White Waterlily, Bobbins, Cambie Leaf, Can Dock, Common Water Lily, European White Lily, Flutterdock, Platter Dock

Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily) is a day-blooming aquatic perennial boasting rounded green leaves, up to 12 in. (30 cm). Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the large, slightly fragrant, white flowers. Cup-shaped at first, each blossom, up to 8 in. across (20 cm), becomes star-shaped with age and features several rows of pointed petals (12-28) surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of golden stamens. Blooming all summer, Nymphaea alba is a hardy nymphaea.

  • Grows up to 4 in. tall (10 cm) and 3-5 ft. wide (90-150 cm). Alba is a large water lily and therefore needs plenty of room.
  • Performs best in full sun in loamy soil in undisturbed water. Plant in a basket with the crown just below the soil surface and covered with pea shingle. Position the basket so that it is covered by 6-10 in. (15-25 cm) of water. Lower the plant to twice the initial planting depth when the plant is established. Feed during the growing season with a proprietary aquatic fertilizer.
  • Deadhead and remove yellow leaves regularly.
  • Keep an eye out for water-lily beetle, water lily aphid, brown china-mark moth, false leaf-mining midge, crown rot, brown spot and water lily leaf spot.
  • Propagate by division of rhizomes or offsets in summer, place pots in shallow water until established.
  • Native to North Africa, temperate Asia, Europe and tropical Asia.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 11
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Aquatic Plants
Plant Family Nymphaeaceae
Genus Nymphaea
Common names Water Lily
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 2" - 4"
(5cm - 10cm)
Spread 3' - 5'
(90cm - 150cm)
Spacing 36" - 60"
(90cm - 150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs High
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Poorly Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Water Gardens
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Not sure which Nymphaea (Water Lily) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Nymphaea ‘August Koch’ (Tropical Water Lily)
Nymphaea lotus (White Egyptian Lotus)
Nymphaea ‘Mrs Richmond’ (Hardy Water Lily)
Nymphaea ‘Perry’s Orange Sunset’ (Hardy Water Lily)
Nymphaea ‘Purple Joy’ (Tropical Water Lily)
Nymphaea ‘Marliacea Carnea’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

July Birth Flower: What is my Birth Flower?
Dwarf and Miniature Hardy Water Lilies
Medium to Large Hardy Water Lilies
Profuse Blooming Hardy Water Lilies
Shade Tolerant Hardy Water Lilies
Nymphaea (Water Lily)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 11
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Aquatic Plants
Plant Family Nymphaeaceae
Genus Nymphaea
Common names Water Lily
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height 2" - 4"
(5cm - 10cm)
Spread 3' - 5'
(90cm - 150cm)
Spacing 36" - 60"
(90cm - 150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs High
Soil Type Clay, Loam
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Poorly Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy
Native Plants United Kingdom
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Water Gardens
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Not sure which Nymphaea (Water Lily) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Nymphaea alba (White Water Lily) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone