Waterlilies are popular aquatic plants that add colorful flowers, floating foliage, and shade to ponds and water gardens. There are two main types: hardy waterlilies and tropical waterlilies. Both provide beauty and help shade pond water, but they differ in appearance, growing conditions, and winter care.
Hardy waterlilies
Hardy waterlilies are perennial aquatic plants that can survive winter in many climates when properly planted below the freezing zone.
- Flowers: Available in white, pink, red, yellow, and other shades.
- Leaves: Rounded floating leaves, typically green.
- Blooming: Flowers generally open during the day and close in the evening.
- Climate: Suitable for colder regions when the variety is hardy for the local climate.
- Winter care: Hardy waterlilies can typically remain in the pond during winter if their roots are protected from freezing.
Hardy waterlilies are a good choice for pond owners who want colorful blooms with relatively little seasonal maintenance.
Tropical waterlilies
Tropical waterlilies thrive in warm water and often produce larger, more dramatic flowers than hardy varieties.
- Flowers: Available in vibrant colors, including blue, purple, pink, yellow, and white.
- Leaves: Some varieties have decorative or mottled foliage.
- Blooming: Available in day-blooming and night-blooming varieties.
- Climate: Require warm growing conditions and cannot survive freezing temperatures.
- Winter care: Must be brought indoors or otherwise protected from freezing in colder climates.
Tropical waterlilies are ideal for pond owners seeking colorful, showy blooms during warmer months.
How to choose the right waterlily
Consider the following when selecting waterlilies for your pond:
- Climate: Choose hardy waterlilies for colder climates or tropical varieties for warm conditions and seasonal displays.
- Sunlight: Most waterlilies grow and bloom best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Water depth: Many waterlilies grow well in 12–24 in. (30–61 cm) of water, depending on the variety. Check the plant's recommended planting depth.
- Available space: Select varieties appropriate for your pond's surface area, as some waterlilies spread farther than others.
- Flowering preference: Choose hardy or tropical varieties based on flower color, size, and preferred blooming times.
Recommended Aquascape planting products
Aquascape offers aquatic planting containers, potting media, and fertilizers designed to support healthy waterlily growth.
Aquatic plant containers
- Aquascape Aquatic Lily Planter – A flexible fabric planter designed for waterlilies and other large aquatic plants.
- Aquascape Aquatic Planters – Porous fabric containers that allow water circulation while helping prevent soil from entering the pond.
- Aquascape Heavy-Duty Aquatic Plant Pots – Larger fabric containers with lifting straps that make removing and repositioning waterlilies easier.
Potting media and fertilizer
- Aquascape Pond Plant Potting Media – An aquatic planting medium designed to support healthy root development without peat moss or compost.
- Aquascape Once-A-Year Pond Plant Fertilizer – A slow-release granular fertilizer recommended when initially planting or repotting waterlilies.
- Aquascape Once-A-Year Pond Plant Fertilizer Capsules – Slow-release capsules designed for fertilizing established aquatic plants.
Both fertilizer formulas provide nutrients for approximately 180 days. Apply once per growing season according to the product instructions and container size.
How to care for waterlilies
- Use an aquatic planter: Plant waterlilies in an appropriately sized Aquascape aquatic container to contain root growth and simplify maintenance.
- Use aquatic potting media: Fill the planter with Aquascape Pond Plant Potting Media to support root development.
- Fertilize appropriately: Use Aquascape Once-A-Year Pond Plant Fertilizer granules when planting or repotting. Use fertilizer capsules for established plants, following the label directions.
- Provide adequate sunlight: Position waterlilies where they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Remove dying foliage: Trim yellowing leaves and spent flowers to reduce decaying organic material in the pond.
- Divide overcrowded plants: Repot or divide waterlilies when growth becomes restricted, preferably in early spring.
- Prepare for winter: Keep hardy waterlily roots below the freezing zone and move tropical varieties to a suitable protected location before freezing temperatures arrive.
With proper planting, fertilization, sunlight, and seasonal maintenance, hardy and tropical waterlilies can provide beautiful flowers and beneficial shade throughout the growing season.