Nymphaea ‘Colorado’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Colorado’ (Water Lily) is a day-blooming aquatic perennial boasting rounded olive green leaves, 5-7 in. across (12-17 cm), with a burgundy mottling that disappears over time. Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the salmon colored, star-shaped flowers. Each luminous blossom, up to 4-6 in. across (10-15 cm), features several rows of pointed petals (26-28) surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of golden stamens. Blooming from spring to fall, Colorado is vigorous and a prolific bloomer, producing many flowers over a long season. It blooms late into the season beyond many other hardy waterlilies, continuing to flower, even after its foliage has died back for winter. Use in medium ponds. Colorado is a hardy nymphaea.

• Grows up to 4 in. tall (10 cm) and 4-6 ft. wide (120-180 cm).
• Depth of water: 6-36 in. (15-90 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.