Nymphaea (Tropical Night Blooming Group)
Common Name(s):
- Description
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Tropical night-blooming water lilies are grown as annuals in temperate zones. They are in the Nymphaeaceae family which is Latin for water lily.
The plants vary in size depending on the species and cultivar. They prefer temperatures above 70 degrees F so don't plant them too early in the spring. Provide at least 5 hours of sun in fertile loamy soils and fertilize with an appropriate fertilizer for water lilies according to package directions. These water lilies are planted in a container and then sunk into the water garden or pond. Follow planting directions from the seller. Tubers can be dug up and stored for next year if desired. Viviparous water lilies form plantlets attached to the mother plant. They are pollinated primarily by night beetles.
Night bloomers open in the evening and close by dawn to late morning of the following day. They are general fragrant, held above the water and come in shades of white, yellow, re, pink, purple, blue and orange.
Use these plants in a water garden, pond, or container. Larger plants need larger water gardens or ponds, while small ones do well in containers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for crown rot, waterlily aphids, waterlily beetles, midges, and leaf spot
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Antares'
Dark rosy red flowers, free-flowering, medium to large water gardens. It spreads 5-6 feet wide. - 'Catherine Marie'
Intense pink fragrant blooms that freely flowers and large olive green lilypads. Spread 2-3 feet, suitable for a pond - 'Emily Grant Hutchings'
Deep pink blooms open early evening and stay open till 8-9 am, medium to large water garden or pond. - 'Juno'
White flowers open early evening and stay open till 8-9am. Medium to large ponds - 'Missouri'
Large showy white blooms, free flowering, open in the evening and stay open until 8-9 am. Use in a large water garden. - 'Red Cup'
Red blooms, reddish-bronze pads, medium to large water gardens. - ' Red Flare'
Rosy-red blooms, prolific bloomer, 4-6 foot spread, reddish-bronze foliage - 'Trudy Slocum'
Pure white fragrant blooms, opens evening to 10am, medium to large water gardens.
- 'Antares'
- 'Antares', 'Catherine Marie', 'Emily Grant Hutchings', 'Juno', 'Missouri', 'Red Cup', ' Red Flare', 'Trudy Slocum'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Antares'
Dark rosy red flowers, free-flowering, medium to large water gardens. It spreads 5-6 feet wide. - 'Catherine Marie'
Intense pink fragrant blooms that freely flowers and large olive green lilypads. Spread 2-3 feet, suitable for a pond - 'Emily Grant Hutchings'
Deep pink blooms open early evening and stay open till 8-9 am, medium to large water garden or pond. - 'Juno'
White flowers open early evening and stay open till 8-9am. Medium to large ponds - 'Missouri'
Large showy white blooms, free flowering, open in the evening and stay open until 8-9 am. Use in a large water garden. - 'Red Cup'
Red blooms, reddish-bronze pads, medium to large water gardens. - ' Red Flare'
Rosy-red blooms, prolific bloomer, 4-6 foot spread, reddish-bronze foliage - 'Trudy Slocum'
Pure white fragrant blooms, opens evening to 10am, medium to large water gardens.
- 'Antares'
- 'Antares', 'Catherine Marie', 'Emily Grant Hutchings', 'Juno', 'Missouri', 'Red Cup', ' Red Flare', 'Trudy Slocum'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nymphaea
- Family:
- Nymphaeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Wildlife Value:
- Water lily leaves provide a landing pad for thirsty bees while offering shelter for aquatic wildlife beneath the surface. The shade cast from the leaves also helps to prevent the growth of algae.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Three chambered capsules start out green and mature to brown. Splits to reveal seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large flowers with many petals in many colors are generally fragrant and held above the waer
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large showy rounded leaves with wavy to toothed margins and green to variegated or mottled with red or cream
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Moths
