Information and background

Distributed worldwide there are about 50 species of Nymphaea, most of them are found in tropical and sub-tropical regions while a few hardier species occur in temperate regions. All are herbaceous submerged aquatic perennials cultivated for their flowers and floating leaves.

Water lilies like to be in a pond in full sun, not overshadowed by trees or buildings. They prefer perfectly still water, so vigorous fountains, waterfalls and streams are out. The main reason they prefer this is temperature, because moving water is colder that stillwater it is not the ideal habitat for lilies that prefer still, warmer waters. They bloom throughout the summer and provide necessary shade with leaf cover to keep the aquatic environment cooler which facilitates fish health.

To grow at their best, water lilies prefer to be in some kind or container, or basket, and grow in nice rich soil containing lots of organic matter.

Pests and diseases

Water lilies are fairly trouble-free. However they may suffer a few pests and diseases but these are mostly superficial and will do little permanent harm to the plants. Be wary about using chemical controls if you have fish in the pond as they can affect the ecology of the pond. If aphids start to attack the leaves and flowers, simply blast them off with a hose. The fish like to eat them.