Description of Nymphaea 'Rose Nymph'

Nymphaea 'Rose Nymphe' is commonly sold as Rose Nymph, a hardy water lily grown for fragrant pink flowers and steady pad cover. It forms a clump from a rhizome and settles well in a basket. You will see the name written with or without the final e, but it usually refers to the same cultivar in pond plant catalogues.

Appearance

The plant produces deep green, rounded pads that sit flat on the surface. Flowers are pink and open widely, and the colour can shift from pale pink to deeper rose as the bloom ages. Many descriptions mention fragrance. It often blooms well through summer when fed, so you can get a long season of colour rather than a short peak.

Care Guide

Plant in full sun in still water. Use a wide basket with loam based compost and top with washed gravel. Lower in stages and aim for a medium depth range once established. A broad working range is often given, so adjust so pads sit comfortably on the surface and buds rise cleanly. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer. Remove old leaves and finished flowers to cut down debris. It is hardy, so overwinter it below ice level.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Rose Nymph suits small to medium ponds where you want a traditional pink lily that also gives useful surface shade. The leaves provide cover for fish and help take the edge off summer heat. It works well as a single feature plant in a small pond or as one of a few spaced plants in a larger pond. Keep open water around it so the flowers are easy to see. If Rose Nymph makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. Keep a small patch of open water near Rose Nymph so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Clear floating debris so buds on Rose Nymph can rise and open cleanly at the surface. In ponds with fish, a gravel cap helps stop compost being disturbed around Rose Nymph. A wide basket helps Rose Nymph spread evenly and usually improves flowering. Clear floating debris so buds on Rose Nymph can rise and open cleanly at the surface. If Rose Nymph makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. Clear floating debris so buds on Rose Nymph can rise and open cleanly at the surface. Keep a small patch of open water near Rose Nymph so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge.

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