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.

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