Description of Nymphaea 'Princess Elizabeth'

Nymphaea 'Princess Elizabeth' is a hardy water lily often sold as a compact, free-flowering choice for smaller ponds and containers. It grows from a rhizome and forms a neat patch of pads, then produces pink flowers through summer. Most suppliers stick to the cultivar name Princess Elizabeth, though you may also see it described simply as a pink water lily.

Appearance

This cultivar produces rounded pads that sit flat and give steady cover without swallowing the whole surface. Flowers are described as coral-pink to soft pink and are often noted for fragrance. The blooms open in daylight and sit at the surface, so they look best in calm water. Because the plant is commonly sold as compact, the flowers tend to feel prominent on the plant rather than being lost in a huge leaf raft.

Care Guide

Grow Princess Elizabeth in full sun in still water. Plant it in a wide basket with loam based compost and cap with washed gravel. Many suppliers recommend a relatively shallow planting position for this cultivar, commonly around 30–45 cm of water over the rhizome. If your pond is deeper, raise the basket on bricks and lower later if the plant is growing strongly. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets during summer and remove ageing leaves and spent flowers. It is hardy, so overwinter it below ice level.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Princess Elizabeth suits patio tubs, barrels, and small ponds where you want fragrance and a clear pink bloom without a sprawling plant. The pads provide shade for fish and wildlife, and the controlled habit makes it easier to keep a balance between open water and plant cover. Place it where you can enjoy the scent and colour from a seat or path. If you lift Princess Elizabeth for repotting, do it in late spring when new shoots are obvious. In ponds with fish, a gravel cap helps stop compost being disturbed around Princess Elizabeth. A wide basket helps Princess Elizabeth spread evenly and usually improves flowering. Keep a small patch of open water near Princess Elizabeth so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Keep a small patch of open water near Princess Elizabeth so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. If you lift Princess Elizabeth for repotting, do it in late spring when new shoots are obvious. Clear floating debris so buds on Princess Elizabeth can rise and open cleanly at the surface. A wide basket helps Princess Elizabeth spread evenly and usually improves flowering. In ponds with fish, a gravel cap helps stop compost being disturbed around Princess Elizabeth.

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