White water lily
Nymphaea candida · Nymphaeaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant white water lily: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Blooming
- June to September
- Adult size
- Up to 1.5 m in diameter depending on depth
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy (zones 4-8)
- Origin
- Northern and central Europe
- Habitat
- Stagnant or slow-moving waters
Care
Submersion and water circulation
Keep your water lily completely submerged. Maintain a water depth of 30 to 60 cm above the rhizomes. Ensure gentle water circulation to prevent complete stagnation and limit organic matter buildup. In a pond, a filtration system or fountain is beneficial.
Light
Choose a sunny location: at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for abundant blooming. This species tolerates partial shade but flowering decreases. Avoid overly shaded areas that delay blooming.
Substrate and planting
Plant the rhizomes in rich organic soil mixed with sterilized garden soil. Use perforated planting baskets to control spread. The substrate must remain moist but stagnation outside the water can rot the rhizomes.
Fertilization
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring and early summer as specialized sticks for aquatic plants, directly at the base of the rhizome. Moderate fertilization is sufficient; excess promotes algae at the expense of flowers.
Cleaning and maintenance
Regularly remove yellowed or damaged leaves and spent flowers to encourage new growth. Limit surface coverage if it becomes invasive. Divide rhizomes every 3 to 4 years to rejuvenate the plant.
Pests and common problems
Watch the leaves for aphids and water lily leaf beetles. Good ecological balance in the pond (natural predators) limits damage. Prioritize improving water circulation rather than chemical treatments.
Did you know?
The candid white water lily inspired Impressionist painters, notably Claude Monet, who immortalized his water lily ponds at Giverny. This aquatic plant symbolizes purity and grace in Greek and Hindu mythology, where it represents the eternal cycle of emerging life.
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
- Yellow water lilyNuphar lutea
- Fragrant water lilyNymphaea odorata
- SpatterdockNuphar advena
- Least Water-lilyNuphar pumila
- Variegated yellow waterlilyNuphar variegata
- Pedunculate oakQuercus robur
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.