Nymphaea ‘James Brydon’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘James Brydon’ (Water Lily) is a day-blooming aquatic perennial boasting rounded, dark purple-blotched, bronze-green leaves, up to 8 in. across (20 cm). Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the large, double, fragrant flowers. Each cup-shaped blossom, up to 4-6 in. across (10-15 cm), features several rows of upward curved, carmine-red petals (27) surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of yellow tipped, deep orange stamens. Blooming from early summer to early fall, James Brydon is free-flowering, more shade tolerant than most, and does well in only 2-3 hours of sunlight. Each blossom lasts for about 5 days, opening in the morning and closing at night. Use in small to large ponds. James Brydon is a hardy nymphaea.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows up to 4 in. tall (10 cm) and 4-12 ft. wide (120-360 cm).
• Depth of water: 6-48 in. (15-120 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.