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Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola'

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
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
£0.00 - £0.00
£0.00
£10.40
£10.40 - £36.00
£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 'Pygmaea Helvola'

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Helvola' is a miniature hardy water lily for the smallest ponds, tubs, and container water gardens. It grows from a small rhizome and forms a compact patch of pads, which makes it easy to fit into a patio setup. It is often listed as one of the smallest yellow-flowering hardy lilies, and it has also been associated with the RHS Award of Garden Merit in some listings.

Appearance

This cultivar stays small and neat, with tiny star-shaped flowers in pale primrose to soft yellow tones. Several sources put individual blooms at about 7 cm across, which is why it looks so well balanced in a barrel pond. The pads are small and can show mottling or darker markings, depending on conditions and leaf age. Because it is a miniature lily, you get a delicate look rather than a dramatic, oversized flower.

Care Guide

Treat it like a dwarf lily rather than a medium pond plant. Plant it in a small basket with loam based compost and a gravel cap, then place it in full sun in still water. Many suppliers recommend shallow planting. A common approach is around 25–40 cm of water over the crown, and if your container is deeper you can raise the basket on bricks. Feed lightly with aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer and remove old leaves so the small plant does not get smothered by debris. It is hardy, so it can stay outside over winter if the rhizome sits below ice.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Pygmaea Helvola is ideal when you want a proper water lily in a small space. It provides a bit of shade and surface cover without blocking the whole container, and the tiny yellow flowers look cheerful and natural. It also works well on a shallow shelf in a pond as long as the water stays calm and the plant has sun. Keep a small patch of open water near Pygmaea Helvola so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. If you lift Pygmaea Helvola for repotting, do it in late spring when new shoots are obvious. If Pygmaea Helvola makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. In ponds with fish, a gravel cap helps stop compost being disturbed around Pygmaea Helvola. If Pygmaea Helvola makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. Clear floating debris so buds on Pygmaea Helvola can rise and open cleanly at the surface.

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.

Rated Excellent