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Next carnivorous plant dispatch date: 28th October
Next carnivorous plant dispatch date: 28th October
Nymphaea 'Doll House'
Nymphaea 'Doll House'
Nymphaea 'Doll House'
Nymphaea 'Doll House'
Nymphaea 'Doll House'
Nymphaea 'Doll House'
Nymphaea 'Doll House'

Nymphaea 'Doll House'

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
£0.00 - £0.00
£0.00
£10.40
£10.40 - £33.35
£10.40
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 'Doll House'

Nymphaea 'Doll House' is a hardy dwarf water lily bred for tubs, barrels, and small ponds. It grows from a small rhizome and forms a compact patch of pads, then flowers freely through summer. The cultivar name Doll House is widely used and easy to remember, which suits a small-pond plant that people often buy as their first lily. It is a good choice if you want plenty of flowers in a limited space and you like a soft, light pink colour.

Appearance

Doll House stays petite compared with most pond lilies. Several listings quote a spread around 70 cm when grown in a basket, which makes it easy to fit into a patio setup. Flowers are star-shaped and very light pink, often with paler tips that give a slightly frosted look at the edges. Many sources describe a strong fragrance, which is unusual in a very small lily and a big part of its appeal. The blooms sit at the surface in calm water, and because the plant is compact, flowers do not get lost among leaves. Pads are small, rounded, and create a neat patch of cover rather than a wide, sprawling raft.

Care Guide

Grow Doll House in full sun for the best flowering. Plant it in a small to medium aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost and a gravel cap. Depth guidance is fairly consistent across listings for this cultivar, with many recommending around 30–50 cm of water over the crown. If your pond is deeper, raise the pot on bricks so pads reach the surface easily. Feed lightly with aquatic fertiliser tablets during the growing season, and remove old leaves and spent flowers so the small plant stays clean and open. It is a hardy lily, so it can overwinter outdoors when the crown sits below the ice line.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Doll House is made for small spaces. It works in patio tubs, half barrels, and compact ponds where larger lilies would smother the surface. The pads still provide shade and shelter for fish and invertebrates, but the small footprint helps you keep open water visible. Because the flowers are light and fragrant, place it where you sit nearby so you can enjoy both the colour and the scent. In a larger pond it also works well on a shallow shelf as a smaller companion plant, as long as you keep it away from more vigorous lilies. Keep a patch of open water next to Doll House so you can enjoy the flowers properly from the edge.

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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