Nymphaea alba
White water lily
Common names: European white water lily
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Jun–Sep
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Origin
- Native to Germany
Photo: DerHexer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Description
The White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba) is a prominent pond plant with large, star‑shaped white flowers that lie flat on the water surface and close at dusk. It roots in the pond bottom, sending long stems up to the surface where glossy, round floating leaves spread. Blooming from June to September, each flower lasts several days. It is winter‑hardy in Germany as long as the rootstock does not freeze completely. The plant is mildly toxic, especially the rootstock, which can cause digestive discomfort if ingested.
Care instructions
Plant the White Water Lily in a specialized container with loamy pond soil to keep the root ball in place and maintain clear water. The correct depth is crucial: keep 40 to 100 cm of water above the crown, depending on the variety. Choose a full‑sun location; without at least five to six hours of direct light, flowering will be sparse. Regularly remove faded flowers and yellowing leaves to keep the pond clean and conserve the plant’s energy. Every three to four years, in early May (week 18 to 19), divide the rootstock to promote stronger growth.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Sep
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, nutrient-rich, loamy, clayey
The European white water lily does not root in classic garden soil, but in nutrient-rich pond mud or a special substrate for aquatic plants. A heavy, loamy to clayey mixture that does not float away and releases nutrients over the season is ideal. The pH of the pond water should lie in the slightly acidic to neutral range, so pH 6.0 to 7.5. Finely sieved gravel as a covering keeps the substrate in place and stops fish from stirring it up.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
May–Jul
The best way to feed water lilies is with special slow-release fertiliser cones for pond plants, which you press carefully into the substrate; this way the nutrients reach the roots instead of the open water. Composted pond mud or well-rotted manure are also suitable as a natural nutrient source at planting. Feed sparingly between May and July, when growth is strongest, because too many nutrients in the water encourage unwanted algae. After the main growth phase, the pond's natural nutrient cycle is usually enough.
Overwintering
The European white water lily is hardy as long as its rootstock lies below the frost line in the pond; a planting depth of at least 40 to 60 cm of water above the rhizome protects it reliably. In shallow ponds or containers, move the plant deeper before the first frost or bring it into a frost-free, cool room. If the water does not freeze through completely, the rhizomes survive the cold season without further protection. In spring the water lily shoots again reliably as soon as the water warms up.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
The most reliable way to propagate the European white water lily is by dividing the rhizome in late spring, once the water has warmed up. To do this, lift the rootstock carefully out of the substrate and cut it with a clean knife into pieces, each with at least one strong bud. Set the pieces horizontally in nutrient-rich substrate and weigh them down lightly until they have rooted. Propagation from seed is unusual in the home garden, as it is very protracted and the seedlings often do not come true to type.
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