Description of Nymphaea 'Andreana'

Nymphaea 'Andreana' is a hardy water lily grown for bold red flowers and strong leaf cover. It grows from a rhizome that creeps slowly in its basket, sending pads to the surface and flowers that sit just clear of the water when conditions stay calm. You will sometimes see it compared with other warm-toned cultivars, but 'Andreana' usually holds a deep red look that reads well from the pond edge.

Appearance

Blooms open cup-shaped and can reach up to about 20cm across in good light, with yellow stamens that brighten the centre. The petals keep a red tone rather than fading quickly. Leaves are oval to rounded and mid-green, often mottled with red-brown markings, especially on newer pads. In a typical UK summer, the plant flowers from June to September. A mature clump usually covers around 90cm of surface, and it can push toward a metre in a warm pond with regular feeding.

Care Guide

Plant Nymphaea 'Andreana' in a wide aquatic basket filled with heavy aquatic compost and topped with washed gravel. Put it in full sun and keep it away from fountains or splashing returns. A useful depth range sits around 20–60cm of water above the pot. If your pond runs deeper, start it on bricks so the first leaves reach the surface, then lower it gradually as the stems lengthen. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through the growing season, spacing them around the rhizome rather than pressing them into the crown. Trim off tired leaves and spent flowers so the plant stays open and tidy.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Nymphaea 'Andreana' suits small to medium ponds because it offers rich colour without an oversized spread. The pads shade fish and give wildlife cover, and the plant still leaves room for marginals around the edge. If you want a lily that looks dramatic against pale stone or a dark liner, this one does the job. Give it its own patch of water and it will not fight for space as aggressively as many large varieties.

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