Skip to content
Log inStart trial

Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical

Nymphaea Cultivars

Design with this plant

Overview

Water lilies (Nymphaea cultivars), both hardy and tropical, enchant with floating blossoms spanning 2-12 inches and waxy, rounded leaves. Hardy variants withstand colder climates, perennially returning in zones 3-11, while tropical types, true annuals or tender perennials in zones 10-11, delight with more vivid flowers. These aquatic plants favor depths of 18-30 inches, requiring full sun for optimal bloom, and offer impressive surface coverage, enhancing water quality and habitat in ponds.

Sun Full, HalfWater Extra in Summer, HighZones 10–11Type AquaticClimate Subtropical
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — and 6 to 18 inches for tropical types

Culture

Sun
Full, Half
Water
Extra in Summer, High
USDA zones
10–11

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Aquatic
Family
Nymphaeaceae
Climate
Subtropical

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (91)

Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — Hardy variants withstand colder climates; tropical types can also take on night-blooming behaviors
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — delight with more vivid flowers
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — requiring full sun for optimal bloom; generally 4 to 6 feet apart, image 66
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — often slightly floating above the water's surface on robust stems; requiring full sun for, image 72
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — They thrive in still water and require planting in containers; aquatic with pink blooms, image 79
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — providing shade which helps reduce algae growth in ponds.<br><br>Tropical Water Lilies; at depths ranging
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — making them a centerpiece in any aquatic garden display; true annuals or tender perennials in, image 84
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — The round foliage is generally green and lily pads can grow up to 8 to 12 inches in diameter, image 44
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — perennially returning in zones 3-11; allows these plants ample room to grow and showcase their spectacular
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — and 6 to 18 inches for tropical types; open in the early morning and close in the late afternoon
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — These lilies can produce blue, purple, or even fuchsia flowers, and some varieties emit a delightful
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — allows these plants ample room to grow and showcase their spectacular blooms
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — allows these plants ample room to grow and showcase their spectacular blooms; pink flowers in, image 83
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — enhancing water quality and habitat in ponds; and offer impressive surface coverage, image 68
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — providing shade which helps reduce algae growth in ponds.<br><br>Tropical Water Lilies; at, image 74
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — open in the early morning and close in the late afternoon
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — making them a centerpiece in any aquatic garden display
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — enchant with floating blossoms spanning 2-12 inches and waxy; commonly referred to as Water, image 89
Water Lily , Hardy & Tropical (Nymphaea Cultivars) — open in the early morning and close in the late afternoon; water lilies (Nymphaea cultivars), image 71
Photographs by 5 contributors

Related plants

Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera) — Ideal for zones 4-10, it requires full sun and a depth of 12-18 inches of water; pink and white flowers in the garden, image 58

Aquatic

Lotus

Nelumbo Nucifera

FullUSDA 4–11
Mayla Hardy Water Lily (Nymphaea 'Mayla') — is renowned for its vibrant fuchsia blooms that grace ponds from late spring to early fall

Aquatic

Mayla Hardy Water Lily

Nymphaea 'Mayla'

FullUSDA 10–11
Bowles Golden Sedge (Carex 'Bowles Golden') — It thrives best in part shade to full shade and prefers consistently moist soil

Aquatic

Bowles Golden Sedge

Carex 'Bowles Golden'

FullUSDA 6–11
Bowles' Golden Sedge (Carex Elata 'Aurea') — It's also low-maintenance, providing year-round interest

Aquatic

Bowles' Golden Sedge

Carex Elata 'Aurea'

FullUSDA 6–11
Butterbur (Petasites Japanicus 'Giganteus') — The plant's spread is equally substantial; green and yellow flowers in the garden, image 93

Aquatic

Butterbur

Petasites Japanicus 'Giganteus'

FullUSDA 7–9
Chilean Gunnera, Dinosaur Food (Gunnera Tinctoria) — perennial plant hailing from the rainforest climates in South America; and their umbrella-like formation

Aquatic

Chilean Gunnera, Dinosaur Food

Gunnera Tinctoria

HalfUSDA 8–11