Nymphaea ‘Gloriosa’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Gloriosa’ (Water Lily) is a day-blooming aquatic perennial boasting rounded green leaves, up to 8-9 in. wide (20-22 cm), blotched with purple when young. Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the cup-shaped to stellate-shaped, bright red flowers. Each pleasantly fragrant blossom, up to 5 in. across (12 cm), features several rows of lightly flecked bright red petals (27-30) surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of glowing golden stamens. Very free-flowering, Gloriosa is an excellent bloomer and can tolerate some shade. Blooming from early summer to early fall, this hardy nymphaea is good for small to medium ponds or water gardens. Gloriosa is subject to crown rot.

• Grows up to 4 in. tall (10 cm) and 3-5 ft. wide (90-150 cm).
• Depth of water: 6-20 in. (15-50 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, and place pots in shallow water until established.