Description of Nymphaea 'Amabilis'

Nymphaea 'Amabilis' is a hardy water lily grown for a clear pink flower and a dependable clumping habit. It grows from a rhizome and spreads by producing more pads from the crown rather than running. You will usually see it sold simply as Amabilis water lily.

Appearance

Amabilis produces nearly round floating pads. New leaves can show a reddish tinge, then mature to deeper green with a lighter underside. Flowers are star-shaped and pink, often with paler tips. Many descriptions put the flower size in the 15–19 cm range with roughly 20–23 petals. A delicate fragrance is often mentioned, and blooms open and close with daylight.

Care Guide

Plant it in a wide basket with heavy loam based compost and a gravel top layer. Give it still water and plenty of sun. Start it shallower in spring and lower gradually, aiming for a typical medium depth once established. Around 30–75 cm over the crown suits many ponds. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer. Remove old leaves and spent flowers to keep the plant open and reduce decay. As a hardy lily, it can stay outdoors through winter below ice.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Amabilis works well in garden ponds where you want a pink flower that reads clearly from the edge without a huge plant. It provides useful surface shade for fish and helps reduce glare. In small ponds it often works best as the main lily, with marginals at the edges for height. Divide in late spring if the basket becomes crowded so flowering stays strong. A wide basket helps Amabilis spread evenly and usually improves flowering. A wide basket helps Amabilis spread evenly and usually improves flowering. Clear floating debris so buds on Amabilis can rise and open cleanly at the surface. If Amabilis makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. If Amabilis makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. If you lift Amabilis for repotting, do it in late spring when new shoots are obvious. If Amabilis makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. If Amabilis makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. Keep a small patch of open water near Amabilis so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Keep a small patch of open water near Amabilis so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Keep a small patch of open water near Amabilis so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. If Amabilis makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth.

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