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Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'
Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'

Nymphaea 'Lily Pons'

Water Lily
Availability:
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Availability:
Out of stock
Availability:
Out of stock
Availability:
Out of stock
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£0.00 - £0.00
£0.00
£9.10
£9.10 - £33.35
£9.10
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 'Lily Pons'

Nymphaea 'Lily Pons' is a hardy water lily grown for very double, sugar-pink flowers and a steady, clumping habit in baskets. It grows from a rhizome and builds floating pads first, then flowers through summer once the water warms. Most sellers use the cultivar name Lily Pons as the main name, so that is the phrase people search for. It suits ponds where you want a soft pink flower with a fuller, almost pom-pom look rather than a simple star bloom.

Appearance

Lily Pons forms rounded green pads that knit together into a tidy surface raft. In good conditions the leaf spread is often listed around 90–120 cm, so it reads as a medium plant rather than a miniature. The flowers are the standout feature. They are described as unusually very double, packed with fine petals that give a rounded, plush shape. The colour sits in the delicate pink range, often called sugar-pink, and it stays in that family rather than fading to white. In still water the blooms sit at the surface and look most dramatic when you view them from above. Because the flowers are so full, even a few blooms can make the plant look busy.

Care Guide

Give Lily Pons full sun and calm water. Plant it in a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost, then top with washed gravel to keep compost from clouding the water. Many UK suppliers recommend a water depth around 30–60 cm over the crown. Start the pot on the shallower end in spring so new pads reach the surface quickly, then lower it gradually once growth is strong. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets during the growing season, as very double flowers take energy to produce. Remove old leaves as they yellow and lift out spent blooms so they do not sink and rot. It is a hardy lily, so leave the rhizome in deeper water over winter so it stays below ice.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Lily Pons works well in small to medium ponds where you want a clearly decorative flower and useful pad cover without a huge plant dominating the surface. The pads provide shade for fish and create a calmer, sheltered zone under the leaves. Because the flowers are very double, they show best when you can see them from a seating spot or path. Keep a clear patch of open water nearby so the blooms do not get lost among foliage and marginals.

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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