Fragrant Water Lily

The fragrant water lily is an aquatic plant that is most easily recognized by its eye-catching, open bloom and uniquely shaped leaves. It is a radially symmetrical flower displaying either white or pink petals. The flower looms above flat, heart-shaped, glossy green, floating leaves.

Plant & Care

• Can be planted submerged in ponds & can also be enjoyed simply as a standalone plant; submerged in a pot/container
• They grow best in high sun to partial shade throughout the day
• Plant tuber/rhizome 1′ to 3′ below the surface of the water
• Pack heavy soils around the tuber/rhizome when planting to avoid floating
• When the lily is in its growth season, fertilize once a month

Detailed Info

This is one of my favorites; it’s a beautiful, hardy & easy to grow water lily. I’ve had this lily for over 20 years growing in multiple ponds. It will have gorgeous yellow bloom with a nice, mottled pattern on the pads all summer & usually late into the fall.

These are very easy to grow & they like as much sun as possible. To plant them, use any plastic type of pot with no holes in the bottom.  Fill with a heavy dirt, heavy clay type dirt’s are good, heavier the better so it does not want to float up. Plant the tuber and cover with a layer of an inch or so of play sand to hold the dirt down.  Allow the top growth tip to come up above the sand a little. If you have koi or goldfish in a pond, maybe zip tie the tuber to a rock inside the pot so they can’t dig it up.  Slowly submerge in the pond or larger container and sink it at least a foot and up to 3 feet below the surface of the water if you have a deeper pond.

During the growing months fertilize each month with a few aquatic fertilizer tabs pushed down in the soil. It will grow fast and will become root pound at least by 2 years and sometimes in one year.  When that happens, repot in early spring when it is just starting to put out pads.