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Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'
Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'

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 Rubra'

Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra' is a true dwarf hardy water lily for tubs, half barrels, and very small ponds. It grows from a small rhizome and makes a compact patch of pads, which is why people also call it a pygmy water lily. The cultivar name Pygmaea Rubra is the one most commonly used in UK pond plant lists.

Appearance

This miniature lily makes small rounded pads and a tight surface cover, usually staying within a small footprint when kept in a basket. Flowers are small and star-shaped. They can open a brighter pink tone and then deepen as they age, often reading as warm red with a golden yellow centre. The blooms sit close to the surface, so you see them best when the water is still and the plant sits at the right depth.

Care Guide

Grow it in full sun in calm water. Plant it in a smaller aquatic basket using heavy loam based compost and top with washed gravel. Because it is a dwarf lily, it prefers shallow water compared with medium and large cultivars. Many UK suppliers quote around 15–25 cm of water over the crown. If your container is deeper, raise the basket on bricks so pads can reach the surface easily. Feed with small aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer, and remove old leaves so the plant stays open. It is hardy, so it can stay outside through winter as long as the rhizome stays below ice.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Pygmaea Rubra is one of the easiest lilies to fit into a small space. It suits wildlife tubs and patio water gardens because it provides shade without covering the whole surface. In a fish pond it gives useful cover, but it will look best if you keep it away from strong water movement and give it a clear patch of open water to flower into. If you lift Pygmaea Rubra for repotting, do it in late spring when new shoots are obvious. Keep a small patch of open water near Pygmaea Rubra so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Clear floating debris so buds on Pygmaea Rubra can rise and open cleanly at the surface. If Pygmaea Rubra makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. If Pygmaea Rubra makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. Clear floating debris so buds on Pygmaea Rubra 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.

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