I always loved water lilies. Until a few years ago, I knew nearly nothing about the except that they had a way of stopping me in my tracks every time I came across one. When I decided to PL in a pond, there wasn't any doubt as to what my firs plant would be. So after the pond was in, off I went to a local nursery, one of the few that carried aquatic plants. The nursery was owned by a Mennonite family who were very personable and eager to help. I was delighted by their selection of water lilies! They had red, pink, yellow, and "I think that one in the corner is a white, " said the owner with pride as I was perusing my options. I just couldn't decide on the pink or the yellow, they were both full of blooms and looked totally irresistible. So, I did what any rational woman would have done, I took them both.
It didn't take long before I was completely in love with these plants. Day after day, bloom after gorgeous bloom, my lilies kept me coming back for more. I couldn't get enough. They were the first things I wanted to see in the morning (as I sipped my coffee) and the last thing I wanted to see before bed.
Then one day a friend came by, and I couldn't wait to show her my lilies. She had a water garden too and knew quite a bit about aquatic plants. "Is that a Charlene Strawn or a Texas Dawn you have there? ", she asked. This left me totally stumped feeling stupid, and thinking to myself, "What the heck is she talking about." I think I responded with a less than brilliant, ... I dunno. "
That was the day that led me on my search to know more about the Hardy Nymphaea And since that day, I've realized that the more I know, the more there is to know about this "jewel" of the water garden.
I started soaking up every bit of information I Could get my hands on. Books, videos, and catalogs are more plentiful than I Could have imagined. I learned It lot just by Studying the wholesale catalogs. The ones with full-color photos and accompanying descriptions were very helpful during that first year-- and most of those catalogs were free for the asking' I couldn't believe that there were scores of hardy water lilies to choose from with names like Virginalis, Chromatella, Rembrandt, Escarboucle, and Fabiola.
HARDY VS TROPICAL
Learning about the hardy water lily was more interesting, or at least more practical, to me than the tropical varieties. I think the tropicals are stunning. but living in an area where zone 5 meets zone 6 presents its share of problems. When I learned about the scores of "hardies" available, I was convinced that my time would be better spent researching them and leaving the tropicals to my friends in the south. I decided that I could live without the electric blues. shocking pinks. and other neon colors that only the tropicals can provide, at least until my greenhouse is built!
I often go back in my mind to the day I bought I my first water lilies. Although I was impressed, at the time, by the selection of water lilies offered by the nursery I patronized, I was later disappointed that they did not know more about them. They were pegged simply pink, red, yellow, and white. I am still not completely sure about the true identity of the pink one I bought there, although I have it narrowed down to two possibilities.
DON'T 'KISS' OFF IDENTIFYING
Garden centers and retail nurseries who deal in aquatic plants need to identify their plants properly. Some retailers choose to operate on a KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) policy when it comes to aquatic plants. This is understandable, as most entry-level hobbyists come in looking for a particular color of water lily, so the retailer will simply peg them with a "Yellow" tag rather than bother with the proper, but lengthy, N. 'Marliacea Chromatella'. But remember this. Entry-level hobbyists soon become educated hobbyists-with a yearning to know what they have (and what they're buying).
ELEPHANT IN A THIMBLE
There are a lot of things to consider when buying and selling water lilies. Size, amount of sunlight required, blooming traits, etc., all need to be taken into account. You wouldn't want to sell someone a water lily with a spread of up to 18' for a 2' container garden. would you? It would be like trying to stuff an elephant into a thimble!
Retailers need to acquaint themselves with their water lilies, (and all aquatic plants) so they can, in turn, educate their customers. A little know]edge goes a long way in the area of customer service! Provide your customers with good, solid information, and they will trust you, continue buying from you, and will recommend you to fellow water gardeners.
NYMPHAEA 101
Pronounced nim-fa ahim fa' ah the name was applied in the year 1753 (by Linnaeus) to a genus of aquatic plants within the family called Nymphaeaceae. Nymphaea comprises both hardy and tropical species, varieties, and cultivars. There are approximately 180 recognized as hardy Nymphaea in the world today!
THE ROOT OF IT ALL
To begin an understanding of the different varieties of hardy Nymphaea one should start at the root, or "rhizome". There are three accepted classifications of rhizomes including Marliac., Odorata, and Tuberosa. There are more of the Marliac varieties than there Odorata or Tuberosa varieties, and there are two distinct types of Marliac rhizome. Hobbyists who intend to grow their water lilies in containers would be more successful growing those of the Marliac type. The spreading Odorata and Tuberosa types quickly outgrow their containers. This can be a nuisance for those not interested in transplanting their water lilies each year!
Offspring of Odorata rootstock are from the native Eastern North American water lily. They are identified by their long, fleshy, brown rhizome. Eyes develop on the rhizome, with each having the ability to begin a new plant.
Central American white water lily hybrid. The rhizome are similar to the Odorata, except their daughter plantlets are loosely attached.
The Marliac hybrids have two kinds of rootstocks. One develops a pineapple-like form crowned by a single growing tip. As the mass grows larger, it will produce eyes which are able to generate new water lilies. The second type of Marlia rootstock is more elongated. Most red hardies are of the second type of Marliac rootstock. These elongated rootstocks produce fewer eyes than the other rhizome types, while the pineapple-like Marliac produce the most. The Marliacs tend to clump rather that trail, (although this is not always the case).
THE HARDY BLOOM
Hardy water lilies come in a variety of colors and shades including red, white, yellow, pink, salmon, and changeable. The changeables are the most interesting, because they open the first day as one color, perhaps yellow-and by the end of the day, their shade may be leaning toward salmon. The second day they may be orange, then rust on the third.
Blooms vary in shape, size, and number of petals among the varieties. There are two basic shapes: cup and stellate (star). The cup shape has variations including double cup, open cup, and double open cup. A good example of a cup shaped flower is N. 'William Falconer'. A good example of a stellate bloom can be found in the N. 'Charlene Strawn'. A good example of a double cup is the recently introduced N. 'Lily Pons'.
The leaf shape, size, texture and color can vary greatly from variety to variety and from plant to plant. So can the coloring and markings of the peduncle and petiole. Water and soil pH, light exposure, plants depth, growing zone and whether the plant has adequate nutrients, all play a role in the color of the pads. Pad colors may also change with seasons.
There is so much to learn about the Hardy Nymphaea.. The best advise I can give anyone who is interested in learning more about the hardy water lily is to read, read, read! There is a wealth of information available, and you will become entranced by what you will learn.