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Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'
Nymphaea 'Alba'

Nymphaea 'Alba'

Water Lily
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
Out of stock
£0.00 - £0.00
£0.00
£9.10
£9.10 - £36.00
£9.10
Type: Loose Root
Size Information

You can choose plants in various pot sizes. Non-potted plants arrive bare root for you to pot in the specified pot size.

Seasonal Information

Depending on the time of year, pond plants may be supplied fully-leaved, with flowers, or with foliage trimmed back.

Delivery Information

This plant is grown in the UK and sent directly from our tried, tested and trusted plant partner. Delivery price calculated at checkout.

Description of Nymphaea 'Alba'

Nymphaea alba is a hardy species water lily for still ponds and containers, grown under the name Alba. People grow it because it is the UK’s native white water lily for wildlife-style ponds and natural looking lakes. It can be vigorous once it settles, so it suits bigger water rather than tiny tubs. Most gardeners simply call it a white water lily, native white water lily.

Appearance

Once it settles, Alba builds a steady cover of floating leaves. Large rounded green leaves that make strong surface cover. You get white, cup-shaped flowers in summer, usually with a yellow centre and a gentle scent. In still water the buds reach the surface cleanly and open well.

Care Guide

Put Alba where the water stays still and the sun reaches the surface for most of the day. Plant into a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost and cap with washed gravel so the water stays clear. Lower the basket in stages and settle it at about 50–150 cm over the crown. Use aquatic fertiliser tablets from late spring into late summer, placed into the pot rather than the water. Snip off tired leaves at the base and lift out old flowers to keep the plant moving. As a hardy lily, it can stay in the pond over winter as long as the crown sits below the ice line.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Allow around about 80–170 cm depending on depth and space of surface room for Alba so it does not crowd other plants. A good leaf raft gives fish cover and reduces light reaching the water, which can help with algae. In a compact pond, keep it as the main surface plant and use marginals for height at the edges.

FAQs

What size water lily do I need for my pond?

Choose a water lily according to the eventual spread of its leaves and the depth of your pond. Compact and miniature varieties are suitable for small ponds and containers, while vigorous varieties need substantially more surface area and deeper water.

How deep should a water lily be planted?

Planting depth varies by variety. Newly planted water lilies can initially be positioned in shallower water, sometimes by raising the basket on bricks, and then lowered gradually as the leaves grow towards the surface. Check the recommended final depth for the specific variety.

Do water lilies need full sun to flower?

Most water lilies flower best with plenty of direct sunlight. A pond in heavy shade may produce fewer flowers, although requirements vary between varieties. When choosing a water lily, consider both the available sunlight and the mature size of the plant.

Can I grow a water lily in a small pond?

es. There are compact and miniature water lilies bred for small ponds, tubs and other container water features. Avoid choosing a vigorous full-sized variety for a small pond, as it can quickly cover too much of the surface.

Why is my water lily growing leaves but not flowering?

Poor flowering can result from insufficient sunlight, overcrowding, an unsuitable planting depth or lack of nutrients. Established water lilies may need dividing and repotting when congested, and plants that flower poorly may benefit from an appropriate aquatic fertiliser where feeding is required.

What are the best pond plants for a wildlife pond?

The best wildlife pond plants provide a mixture of underwater cover, surface shade, flowering habitat and places for aquatic insects to emerge. A balanced pond can include oxygenating plants, marginal plants and floating-leaved plants such as water lilies. Native species are particularly useful for supporting UK pond wildlife.

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