Thursday, May 5, 2011

Waterlily Ideas For Your Pond

 Nymphaea 'Rose Arey'
    Waterlily


Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 11
Spread    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green and purple
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Nymphaea species and its cultivars are notably the most colorful and recognized surfacing aquatic plants.  Hardy waterlilies are able to adapt to a wide range of climates if, in colder regions, their roots are covered with soil or the water doesn't freeze their crowns.  In the fall, hardy waterlilies store food in their fleshy roots and enter dormancy.  In some parts of the United States, hardy waterlilies flourish year-round.  Waterlilies are deep-rooted and tend to inhibit some algae growth due to the shade created by their large leaves.  Requiring a minimum of 4-6 hours of sunlight (partial shade is sometimes tolerated) each day, hardy waterlilies flourish from May until the first frost.  The individual flowers of hardy waterlilies open during the morning hours and close in the later afternoon hours; these blooms can last up to five days.  Faithfully prune these plants, and cut back the frost-killed foliage.  Hardy waterlilies should be planted initially under 3 to 20 inches of water, depending on the size of the rhizome.  Once established, the plant should be lowered to twice the planting depth.  Removal of dead leaves and flowers will prevent sinking and rotting in the water.  Requires full sun for blooming.  All waterlilies should be planted in firm compost in still water.  Avoid organic materials; it will turn the water green.  It is important that this plant be in an adequate amount of water.

The green leaves of 'Rose Arey' are tinted red.  Its pointed petals with incurving sides are pink, and the stamens are gold.  Although slow to establish, this plant does come into bloom earlier in the season than others and emits a mild fragrance.  It is a small to medium-sized waterlily and needs anywhere between 8-20" of water depth to cover the lily crown.



 Nymphaea 'Virginalis'
    Waterlily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    4A to 11
Spread    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous
Bloom Color    White
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green and purple
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
Nymphaea species and its cultivars are notably the most colorful and recognized surfacing aquatic plants.  Hardy waterlilies are able to adapt to a wide range of climates if, in colder regions, their roots are covered with soil or the water doesn't freeze their crowns.  In the fall, hardy waterlilies store food in their fleshy roots and enter dormancy.  In some parts of the United States, hardy waterlilies flourish year-round.  Waterlilies are deep-rooted and tend to inhibit some algae growth due to the shade created by their large leaves.  Requiring a minimum of 4-6 hours of sunlight (partial shade is sometimes tolerated) each day, hardy waterlilies flourish from May until the first frost.  The individual flowers of hardy waterlilies open during the morning hours and close in the later afternoon hours; these blooms can last up to five days.  Faithfully prune these plants, and cut back the frost-killed foliage.  Hardy waterlilies should be planted initially under 3 to 20 inches of water, depending on the size of the rhizome.  Once established, the plant should be lowered to twice the planting depth.  Removal of dead leaves and flowers will prevent sinking and rotting in the water.  Requires full sun for blooming.  All waterlilies should be planted in firm compost in still water.  Avoid organic materials; it will turn the water green.  It is important that this plant be in an adequate amount of water.

'Virginalis' is a dependable bloomer, being one of the first waterlilies to open up and one of the last to go dormant.  It does quite well in up to three feet of water.



Euryale ferox
    Prickly Waterlily,  Fox Nuts

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    8A to 11
Height    1" to 2" / 2cm to 5cm
Spread    12" to 4' / 30cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Evergreen

Bloom Color    Lavender, pink, purple and red
Bloom Time    Summer

Environment
This plant will grow in moist to wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green and purple
This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes
This plant is not reliable in areas that have heavy frosts.  It has large, round, floating, spiny leaves.  E. ferox should only be planted in deep tropical pools, and its seeds and rhizomes are edible.


 Nymphaea 'Aquateius'
    Waterlily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    6B to 10A
Spread    4' to 5' / 1.20m to 1.60m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full sun
Persistence    Deciduous and evergreen

Bloom Color    Purple
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are fragrant, showy and suitable for cut flowers.

 Environment
This plant will grow in wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green
This plant has attractive foliage.
Culture Notes
Nymphaea species and its cultivars are notably the most colorful and recognized surfacing aquatic plants.  Hardy waterlilies are able to adapt to a wide range of climates if, in colder regions, their roots are covered with soil or the water doesn't freeze their crowns.  In the fall, hardy waterlilies store food in their fleshy roots and enter dormancy.  In some parts of the United States, hardy waterlilies flourish year-round.  Waterlilies are deep-rooted and tend to inhibit some algae growth due to the shade created by their large leaves.  Requiring a minimum of 4-6 hours of sunlight (partial shade is sometimes tolerated) each day, hardy waterlilies flourish from May until the first frost.  The individual flowers of hardy waterlilies open during the morning hours and close in the later afternoon hours; these blooms can last up to five days.  Faithfully prune these plants, and cut back the frost-killed foliage.  Hardy waterlilies should be planted initially under 3 to 20 inches of water, depending on the size of the rhizome.  Once established, the plant should be lowered to twice the planting depth.  Removal of dead leaves and flowers will prevent sinking and rotting in the water.  Requires full sun for blooming.  All waterlilies should be planted in firm compost in still water.  Avoid organic materials; it will turn the water green.  It is important that this plant be in an adequate amount of water.



 Nymphaea 'Comanche'
    Waterlily

Type    Perennial
Hardy range    3A to 11
Height    1" to 4" / 2cm to 10cm
Growth rate    Fast
Form    Spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Full shade to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Orange and salmon
Bloom Time    Spring through Fall

The flowers are fragrant, very showy and suitable for cut flowers.

Environment
This plant will grow in wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is  a neutral soil.

Leaf Color    Green and purple
This plant has attractive foliage.


Culture Notes
Nymphaea species and its cultivars are notably the most colorful and recognized surfacing aquatic plants.  Hardy waterlilies are able to adapt to a wide range of climates if, in colder regions, their roots are covered with soil or the water doesn't freeze their crowns.  In the fall, hardy waterlilies store food in their fleshy roots and enter dormancy.  In some parts of the United States, hardy waterlilies flourish year-round.  Waterlilies are deep-rooted and tend to inhibit some algae growth due to the shade created by their large leaves.  Requiring a minimum of 4-6 hours of sunlight (partial shade is sometimes tolerated) each day, hardy waterlilies flourish from May until the first frost.  The individual flowers of hardy waterlilies open during the morning hours and close in the later afternoon hours; these blooms can last up to five days.  Faithfully prune these plants, and cut back the frost-killed foliage.  Hardy waterlilies should be planted initially under 3 to 20 inches of water, depending on the size of the rhizome.  Once established, the plant should be lowered to twice the planting depth.  Removal of dead leaves and flowers will prevent sinking and rotting in the water.  Requires full sun for blooming.  All waterlilies should be planted in firm compost in still water.  Avoid organic materials; it will turn the water green.  It is important that this plant be in an adequate amount of water.

'Comanche' is probably one of the best "changeable" waterlilies.  Its blooms start out yellow, deepen to a pinkish-orange and, finally, turns a dark orange-bronze color.  Its lily pads start out purple and, with maturity, become green and speckled.  It tolerates partial sun and does best in a medium-sized pond.  It is a small to medium-sized waterlily and needs anywhere between 8-20" of water depth to cover the lily crown.  As a hardy waterlily, 'Comanche' does a fairly good job in resisting pests and diseases.  It is a prolific bloomer, has an extended bloom season and wonderful bloom colors.