Nymphaea 'Chalene Straw'

Water Lily

Availability:

in stock, ready to be shipped

Availability:

in stock, ready to be shipped

£0.00 - £0.00

£0.00

£14.99

£14.99 - £15.00

£14.99

Quantity

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 'Chalene Straw'

Your row reads Nymphaea 'Chalene Straw', but the commonly sold hardy cultivar is Nymphaea 'Charlene Strawn'. The spelling error appears in catalogues from time to time, so it is worth correcting for search and labelling. Charlene Strawn is grown for soft yellow flowers and a noticeable fragrance, with a fairly generous pad spread in good conditions. It grows from a rhizome and forms a clump in a basket, making it manageable even though it can cover a decent patch of water.

Appearance

Charlene Strawn produces rounded floating leaves and builds a good surface raft. Some sources describe leaves around 20 cm across, which gives the plant a substantial look without needing giant pads. Flowers are usually described as soft to clear yellow and about 15 cm across in many listings. Many gardeners grow it for scent, which can be strong on warm, still days. The blooms sit on or slightly above the surface and open in daylight. In full sun the colour looks cleaner and richer, while light shade can soften the yellow a little but does not usually change it into a different colour.

Care Guide

Grow Charlene Strawn in full sun in still water. Plant it in a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost and cap with washed gravel. Start the basket shallow so early pads reach the surface easily, then lower it gradually. Depth recommendations vary, but many growers settle it into a medium shelf once the plant is established. Use aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer to keep flowers coming, and remove old leaves so the plant stays open and buds can rise cleanly. It is hardy, so overwinter it below the ice line in the deeper part of the pond.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

This lily suits medium ponds where you want a gentle yellow flower and useful shade. Many listings describe a spread around 0.9–1.5 m in strong growth, so plan space and avoid crowding it with other vigorous lilies. The pads provide cover for fish and help reduce algae by limiting light, but you still want some open water for viewing. If your pond is small, it can work as the main lily in a basket, as long as you are happy to divide it when the pot fills. If Charlene Strawn makes plenty of pads but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. A wide basket helps Charlene Strawn root evenly and usually improves the flower count.

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.