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Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'
Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'

Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins'

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
£36.00
£9.10 - £36.00
£36.00
Type: 5 Litre Premium Potted
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 'Barbara Dobbins'

Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins' is a hardy water lily grown for unusual peachy-yellow flowers with a pink flush and a long flowering season. It grows from a rhizome and forms floating pads, then sends up blooms from early summer into early autumn. Gardeners usually use the full cultivar name Barbara Dobbins because the colour mix is quite specific. It suits ponds where you want something warmer than plain yellow but not as strong as orange.

Appearance

Leaves are rounded and can show maroon mottling when young before turning greener as they mature. Flowers are star to cup-shaped and are often described as a blend of yellow, peach, and apricot with a pink blush. Many sources also note fragrance. A distinctive point is flower position: blooms can be held well above the foliage, commonly about 10–15 cm above the water, which makes them easy to see. Flower size is often given around 10–15 cm across, with a fairly full look from multiple petals.

Care Guide

Give Barbara Dobbins full sun and still water. Plant it in a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost and top with washed gravel. Lower the pot gradually so the first pads reach the surface quickly. Most UK sellers place it at around 45–90 cm of water over the crown once established. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through the growing season, as free-flowering cultivars need steady nutrients to keep producing buds. Remove old pads and spent flowers to keep the plant open and to reduce debris in the pond. Over winter, leave it in deeper water so the rhizome stays protected, and avoid lifting the pot unless you need to divide it.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

This cultivar suits medium ponds and larger wildlife ponds. Many listings give a spread somewhere around 70–100 cm, and some allow up to 120 cm in strong growth, so plan for a decent patch of surface cover. That cover gives fish shade and helps reduce algae by limiting light. Because the flowers rise above the pads, they still show well even when the plant is carrying plenty of leaves. If your pond is small, you can keep it in a basket and divide it when it starts to crowd out open water. Leave a patch of open water beside Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins' so you can actually see the flowers when they open. In ponds with fish, a firm gravel cap keeps compost in place around Nymphaea 'Barbara Dobbins' and helps the plant settle.

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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