Nymphaea ‘Fabiola’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Fabiola’ (Water Lily) is a day-blooming aquatic perennial boasting rounded green leaves, up to 8 in. wide (20 cm), with red undersides. Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the pleasantly fragrant, bubblegum pink flowers. Each cup-shaped blossom, up to 4-6 in. across (10-15 cm), features several rows of pointed petals (20) surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of yellow stamens. Each flower lasts several days, opening in the morning and closing in the late afternoon. Blooming from early summer to early fall, Fabiola is free-flowering and produces many flowers over a long season. Fabiola is a hardy nymphaea that is nicely suited for smaller tubs and ponds where space is limited.

• Grows up to 4 in. tall (10 cm) and 2-4 ft. wide (60-120 cm).
• Performs best in full sun in loamy soil in undisturbed water. Very adaptable, this nymphaea can tolerate some shade. 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.