Description of Nymphaea 'Fabiola'

Nymphaea 'Fabiola' is a hardy water lily grown for peony-style pink flowers and good summer coverage in garden ponds. You may also see it sold under the older name Mrs Richmond in some catalogues, so it is worth checking the full listing when you buy. It grows from a rhizome and forms a clump, which makes it straightforward to manage in a basket.

Appearance

Fabiola makes rounded floating pads that build a steady raft over the water. The flowers are fuller than a simple star bloom and are often described as peony-like. Many descriptions put the flower size around 15–18 cm across, with pale pink outer petals and deeper pink-red tones towards the middle. A pleasant fragrance is often mentioned on new flowers. In still water the blooms sit nicely on the surface and read well from a short distance.

Care Guide

Place it in full sun for the best colour and flower count. Plant it in a wide basket with heavy loam based compost, then top with washed gravel. Lower the basket in stages and aim for a medium depth once it is established. Many UK sellers place it in the region of about 35–60 cm of water over the crown, and you can tweak from there so pads reach the surface comfortably. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer and remove old leaves and spent flowers to reduce debris. It is hardy, so keep it below ice level over winter.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Fabiola suits medium ponds where you want a strong pink focal point without an overly wild plant. The pads provide shade for fish and help soften the look of the water surface, while the fuller flowers add a different texture from simple star-shaped cultivars. It also pairs well with marginal plants because the colour is clear and the blooms sit where you can see them easily. A wide basket helps Fabiola spread evenly and usually improves flowering. A wide basket helps Fabiola spread evenly and usually improves flowering. If Fabiola makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. Keep a small patch of open water near Fabiola so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. A wide basket helps Fabiola spread evenly and usually improves flowering. Keep a small patch of open water near Fabiola so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. If Fabiola makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. If Fabiola makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth.