Nymphaea ‘Trudy Slocum’ (Tropical Water Lily)

Nymphaea ‘Trudy Slocum’ (Water Lily) is a night-blooming aquatic perennial boasting nearly round, emerald green leaves, up to 13 in. wide (32 cm), adorned with a few purple blotches and rounded teeth on the margins. Floating on the surface of the water, they create a lovely backdrop for the profuse, nearly flat, pure white flowers, 6-8 in. across (15-20 cm). Each pleasantly fragrant blossom lasts 3-4 days, opening at dusk and closing by noon the following day. Cold fall days or cloudy days can cause them to stay open longer. Blooming from summer into fall, Trudy Slocum is very free-flowering, non-viviparous, and produces many flowers over a long season. This tropical nymphaea is suitable for medium to large water gardens.

• Grows up to 6-10 in. tall (15-25 cm) and 5-8 ft. wide (150-240 cm).
• Water depth: 12-30 in. (30-75 cm).
• Performs best in full sun in undisturbed water. Needs protection from wind.
• Plant tubers in spring, with the crown slightly above the soil surface, after the water temperature has warmed to about 70ºF (20ºC). Feed every 2-3 weeks with a proprietary aquatic fertilizer.
• Deadhead and remove yellow leaves regularly.
• No serious pest or disease issues. 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.