Nymphaea tetragona

water lily (syn. N. pygmaea 'Alba')

2 litre pot £22.99 Buy
+
-
1 year guarantee

  • Position: full sun
  • Depth of water: 15-30cm (6-12in)
  • Rate of growth: average
  • Ultimate spread: 40cm (16in)
  • Height above surface: 0-10cm (0-4in)
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Hardiness: fully hardy

    Small, slightly fragrant, cup-shaped white flowers up to 5cm (2in) across with slightly scalloped petals float atop round, mid green leaves from June to September. These award-winning pygmy water lilies will happily grow in as little as 15cm (6in) of water, and they are perfect candidates for a small pond or tub in a sheltered, sunny site. The shade cast by the leaves also helps to check the spread of the algae.

  • Garden care: Plant firmly in a hessian-lined aquatic planting basket filled with aquatic compost. Apply a 2.5cm (1in) top-dressing of pea shingle or gravel to prevent the top layer of the planting medium from clouding the water. The crown of the plant should protrude slightly above the surface of the planting basket.

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'

water lily

Dwarf variety with warm red flowers. Ideal for a small pond

£22.99 Buy

Nymphaea 'Aurora'

water lily

Dwarf variety with red flowers. Ideal for small ponds

£22.99 Buy

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'

water lily

Small variety with yellow flowers. Ideal for a small pond

£22.99 Buy

Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Crowborough'

arum lily

Perfection for the pondside

£11.99 Buy
 

How to create a wildlife-friendly garden

How to create a wildlife-friendly garden

An organic garden should also be a wildlife-friendly garden. Not only is it wonderful to see nature at work, but many creatures will help you achieve better results. The ponds in my garden act as a magnet to dragonflies and...

Read full article

How to make a garden pond

How to make a garden pond

A garden pond can transform the atmosphere of a garden, adding colour, light and movement. If you include a pond pump [link] then you can enjoy the soothing sound of moving water too. In a small garden an area of...

Read full article

June Week 1

For the beginner If you do nothing else... Water new plants. Make sure new additions do not suffer during dry spells. Plant up summer containers. Plant containers with summer bedding once the threat of frosts has passed. Feed container plants. About six...

Read full article

Plant up your pond

Choose a sunny warm day to make the job more pleasant. Use a special aquatic basket with lattice-work sides to plant both marginals for the shallows around the edge of the pond and for deep-water plants such as waterlilies. It is also important...

Read full article

Adding life to your pond

Most pond plants are easy to grow and require little maintenance other than the occasional tidy up to remove tired-looking foliage or fading flowerheads, but for a pond to be relatively easy to look after you have to choose varieties...

Read full article