My garden, alive in my pocket.
Track my garden
🌿

Spatterdock

Nuphar advena · Nymphaeaceae

The gardener's calendar

The right move for September

Ideal time to plant spatterdock: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.

JFMAMJJASOND Planting

ID card

Foliage
Evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on climate
Blooming
June to September, yellow flowers
Adult size
Emerging leaves 20 to 40 cm in height
Growth
Moderate to rapid during growing season
Hardiness
Hardy, withstands severe winters
Origin
North America, wetlands and water bodies
Water type
Water bodies, ponds, shallow zones (0.3 to 1.5 m)

Care

Watering and immersion

Your emergent-leaved water lily must remain constantly submerged in water. Install it in a special planting basket at the bottom of your pond or basin. Maintain a stable water depth between 30 and 150 cm depending on local conditions. Regularly check that the plant isn't emerging excessively or drying out.

Light exposure

This aquatic plant appreciates direct sunlight, ideally 5 to 6 hours per day minimum for optimal blooming. It tolerates partial shade, but flowering will be less abundant. Avoid overly shaded areas or stagnant water without light.

Substrate and bottom

Use rich substrate for aquatic plants: bottom soil or special pond substrate mixed with natural earth. The water lily thrives in muddy, organic-rich bottoms. Place the plant in a permeable basket to facilitate establishment and limit overgrowth.

Fertilization

Apply balanced aquatic fertilizer at the start of the season (May-June) to stimulate growth and flowering. Use specialized sticks or pellets for aquatic plants, placed near the roots. One to two applications during the season are generally sufficient.

Maintenance and cleaning

Regularly remove dead or damaged leaves to prevent rot and maintain your pond's appearance. In late autumn, reduce dry foliage. This plant needs no structural pruning. Clean floating debris around the plant.

Prevention and problems

Watch for aquatic insects (water lily beetles) that can perforate the leaves. In case of infestation, manually remove affected leaves. Ensure good water circulation exists to prevent fungal diseases. The biological balance of your pond helps keep the plant healthy.

Did you know?

The emergent-leaved water lily, native to North American wetlands, is a pioneer plant that colonizes stagnant waters and plays a major ecological role in stabilizing banks and providing shelter and food for aquatic insects. Its discreet yellow flowers, less spectacular than those of white or pink water lilies, hide a great capacity to adapt to variations in water depth.

Where to buy it

Best planted in spring or autumn, away from frost and heatwaves. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September, October.

Add this plant to my garden →

Plants from the same family

Browse all plants →

Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.