Description of Nymphaea 'Sirius'

Nymphaea 'Sirius' is a hardy water lily that grows from a rhizome and produces floating pads and summer flowers in still water. In a basket it keeps its shape and you can manage its size by lifting and dividing when the pot fills. It is normally sold under the cultivar name Sirius rather than a separate common name.

Appearance

Green pads that can reach about 28 cm across. The pads lie flat and create a steady raft over the water. Flowers are deep red blooms, often around 15–18 cm across, with warm-toned stamens. You often notice best colour in strong light. Blooms open in daylight and close later, so the display changes through the day.

Care Guide

Place Sirius in full sun where the surface stays calm and the leaves do not get battered by spray. Plant into a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost, then cap with washed gravel to keep the water clear. Lower the basket in stages so new leaves can reach the surface, then settle it at around 45–80 of water over the crown. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through the growing season, pushed into the compost. Remove yellowing leaves and spent flowers to cut debris and keep growth moving. As a hardy lily, it can stay outside in winter as long as the crown sits below the ice line.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Sirius suits ponds where you can give it about 100–150 cm of surface space. The pads shade fish and help limit algae by reducing light once the plant is established. Use one main lily in a small pond, or space several well apart in a larger pond so each has open water around it.

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