Water Lily

Nymphaea Colonel A J Welch

• Position: full sun
• Depth of water: 75-120cm (30-48in)
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Ultimate spread: 175cm (66in)
• Height above surface: 0-10cm (0-4in)
• Hardiness: fully hardy

  
  Cheerful, cup-shaped, soft-yellow flowers which appear to peep through a floating carpet of dark-green leaves appear from June to September. This water lily is best grown at a planting depth of 75-120cm (30-48in). It is an excellent choice for a large, deep, wildlife pond, where the dark green leaves create a shady underwater habitat for native fish and amphibians. The shade cast by the foliage also helps check the spread of 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. Raise the basket on bricks when the plant is young, gradually lowering them as the plant matures, so that the leaves float on the surface.