Aquatic plantsNymphaea alba
White Water Lily
The white water lily is an iconic aquatic plant with large, round floating leaves and elegant white flowers that rest on the water surface. The blooms open in the morning and close in the afternoon, from June through September. The plant provides shade and shelter for fish and amphibians beneath its leaves.
Characteristics
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- High
- Height
- 10–15 cm
- Spread
- 100–200 cm
- Hardiness zone
- 4–10
- Family
- Nymphaeaceae
- Evergreen
- No
- Flower colors
- white
- Wildlife value
- frogs, dragonflies, fish
Bloom period
Care guide
Plant in still or slow-moving water at a depth of 40 to 100 centimetres in a pond basket filled with heavy clay soil. Water lilies need at least five hours of direct sunlight per day. Remove dead leaves regularly to keep the water clean. Fertilize in spring with special aquatic plant tablets.
Pruning tips
Cut away yellowed and dead leaves regularly below the waterline. Remove spent flowers to encourage the plant to form new buds. Thin the plant in spring if the floating leaves cover more than two-thirds of the water surface.
Good companions
FernsPolystichum setiferum
Soft Shield Fern
The soft shield fern is an elegant, evergreen fern with finely divided, soft green fronds that arch gracefully outwards. The plant forms a beautiful rosette and fits perfectly in shady borders and woodland gardens. Mature specimens can reach up to 120 centimetres across.
Ground coverAjuga reptans
Bugleweed
Bugleweed is a robust ground cover that spreads rapidly through runners. From April to June, dense spikes of blue-purple flowers rise above the dark green, glossy foliage. The plant is evergreen and forms a continuous carpet within a single growing season.
Ornamental grassesPennisetum alopecuroides
Fountain Grass
Fountain grass is an elegant ornamental grass that produces soft, bottlebrush-like plumes from August to October. The grass forms a dense, mound-shaped tussock and looks its best when backlit, with sunlight filtering through the feathery plumes. The flower heads and foliage turn warm golden-brown in autumn.