Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Rubra’ (Hardy Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Rubra’ (Water Lily) is a miniature aquatic perennial boasting small, dark, purple-blotched, rounded leaves. Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the cup-shaped, slightly fragrant flowers. Each blossom, up to 1.25 in. across (3 cm), features upward-curving deep rose-pink petals, darkening with age to deep red, and surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of glowing golden-orange stamens. Each flower lasts several days, opening in the morning and closing at night. Blooming from summer into fall, this very free flowering, hardy nymphaea is good for containers or small ponds.

• 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 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.