Nymphaea ‘Arc En Ciel’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Arc En Ciel’ (Water Lily) is a day-blooming aquatic perennial boasting a unique foliage of incredibly variegated red, brown, pink, cream and green leaves. Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the star-shaped, white flowers with a hint of pink. Each fragrant blossom, up to 5-6 in. across (12-15 cm), features 18-24 long and narrow petals surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of golden stamens. Blooming from early summer to early fall, Arc En Ciel blooms reliably and produces many flowers over a long season. Use in medium to large ponds. Arc En Ciel is a hardy nymphaea.

• Grows up to 4 in. tall (10 cm) and 4-5 ft. wide (120-150 cm).
• Depth of water: 6-24 in. (15-60 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade in loamy soil in undisturbed water. Plant in a basket with the crown just below the soil surface and covered with pea shingle. 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.