Nymphaea ‘Hermine’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Hermine’ (Water Lily) is a day-blooming aquatic perennial boasting heart-shaped olive green leaves, up to 6 in. wide (15 cm). Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the white, star-shaped flowers. Each slightly fragrant blossom, up to 5-5.5 in. across (12-14 cm), features several rows of pure white petals (17-20) surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of golden stamens. Introduced by Latour-Marliac in 1912, Hermine is an excellent bloomer. Blooming from early summer to early fall, this hardy nymphaea is good for small to medium ponds or container gardens.

• Grows up to 4 in. tall (10 cm) and 30 in. wide (75 cm).
• Depth of water: 6-24 in. (15-60 cm).
• 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. 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.