Pygmy Waterlily, Small White Water Lily, Nymphaea pygmaea Alba, Castalia tetragona
Nymphaea tetragona (Pygmy Water Lily) is a perennial aquatic plant boasting round, mid-green leaves, 1-5 in. long (2-12 cm), sometimes mottled red-brown to purple. Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the white to pinkish, yellow-centered flowers. Each slightly fragrant, cup-shaped blossom, up to 2 in. across (5 cm), features 7-15 scalloped petals surrounding a conspicuous bouquet of golden stamens. Blooming all summer, the flowers open in the afternoon and close in the evening. Their fruit is a berry-like, leathery, many-seeded capsule that opens to release a jelly-like seed mass. Native to Northern Europe, Subarctic America to Northwestern USA, Pygmy Water Lily is found in ponds, swamps, lakes, and quiet streams in the lowland and montane zones. This dwarf water lily prefers more cold than many others and is ideally suited to growing in a small pond or tub in a sheltered, sunny site.
| Hardiness |
3 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 11 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Aquatic Plants |
| Plant Family | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus | Nymphaea |
| Common names | Water Lily |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2" - 4" (5cm - 10cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" (50cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Rhode Island, Alaska, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Idaho, Washington, Montana |
| Garden Uses | Ponds And Streams, Water Gardens |
| Hardiness |
3 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 11 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Aquatic Plants |
| Plant Family | Nymphaeaceae |
| Genus | Nymphaea |
| Common names | Water Lily |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2" - 4" (5cm - 10cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" (50cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Rhode Island, Alaska, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Idaho, Washington, Montana |
| Garden Uses | Ponds And Streams, Water Gardens |
How many Nymphaea tetragona (Pygmy Water Lily) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Nymphaea tetragona (Pygmy Water Lily) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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