Description of Nymphaea 'Gonnere Snowball'

Nymphaea 'Gonnere' is a hardy white water lily, widely known by the nickname Snowball because the flowers are so full and rounded. It grows from a rhizome and forms a compact-to-medium patch of pads, then flowers from early summer into early autumn. You may see it written as Gonnère, and most suppliers treat the names as the same plant. If you want a double white lily with scent, this is one of the better-known choices.

Appearance

Gonnere makes rounded floating pads, with young leaves often bronze tinted before they turn greener. The main feature is the flower: fully double, cotton-white, and packed with petals. Several descriptions give around 57–62 petals and a bloom size roughly 10–15 cm across, with golden stamens tucked in the centre. Flowers open in daylight, and one nice trait noted by some growers is that blooms can stay open later into the day than many cultivars. Scent is often described as pleasant and noticeable in warm weather.

Care Guide

Plant Gonnere in full sun in still water. Use a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost and cap with washed gravel. Start it on a shallower shelf so early pads sit on the surface, then lower the pot gradually. Depth recommendations vary, but a practical working range is around 15–75 cm of water over the crown, with many gardens finding the middle of that range easiest. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer to support repeat flowering and to stop the plant putting all its energy into leaves. Remove old pads and spent flowers regularly. Over winter, keep the rhizome below the ice line and leave it undisturbed until spring.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Gonnere suits small to medium ponds because it is often described as having a compact spread for a double-flowered lily, commonly around 75–100 cm in many UK lists. The pad cover gives shade for fish and helps reduce algae by limiting light. Because the flowers are white and full, they look best when you can view them from the edge, so place the basket where you can see across the surface. In very small ponds, one lily is usually enough, and Gonnere can easily be the main feature plant. A wide basket helps Nymphaea 'Gonnere' spread evenly and stops the rhizome circling in a tight pot. If Nymphaea 'Gonnere' makes plenty of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than moving it deeper. If you want to repot Nymphaea 'Gonnere', do it in late spring when new shoots are moving and the water is warming.

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