Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Helvola’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Helvola’ (Water Lily) is a miniature aquatic perennial boasting dark, purple-blotched, rounded leaves, up to 4 in. wide (10 cm). Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the cup-shaped, semi-double flowers. Each fragrant blossom, up to 2 in. across (5 cm), features upward-curving lemon-yellow petals surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of glowing golden-orange stamens. Each flower lasts several days, opening in the morning and closing at night. Blooming continuously from summer into fall, this hardy nymphaea is good for containers or small ponds.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows up to 3 in. tall (7 cm) and 12-24 in. wide (30-60 cm).
• Depth of water: 4-12 in. (10-30 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.