Description of Nymphaea 'Solfatare'

Nymphaea 'Solfatare' is a hardy water lily often sold for small ponds and tubs because it stays relatively compact while still flowering freely. It grows from a rhizome and forms a clump of floating pads that you can manage easily in a basket. Gardeners usually refer to it simply as Solfatare water lily, and the changing flower colour is the main reason people choose it.

Appearance

Solfatare is known for flowers that shift in colour as they age. Many descriptions say the blooms open in warm yellow or yellow-apricot tones, then deepen through orange and into richer reddish shades over a few days. This means a single plant can show several colours at once when multiple flowers are open. Some sources describe mottled or flushed leaves that can show rose and maroon tones, which adds interest even when the plant is not in bloom. Fragrance is reported as absent in some listings, so it is best not to buy it for scent.

Care Guide

Grow it in full sun for the strongest colour and the best flowering. Plant into a wide basket with heavy loam based compost and cap with washed gravel. Lower the pot in stages and keep it at a depth suited to a small to medium lily. Many sellers list it for shallow to medium shelves and quote a leaf spread around 60–90 cm, so use that as a guide for spacing. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer and remove ageing leaves so new growth stays strong. It is hardy, so leave it below the ice line over winter.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Solfatare suits garden ponds where you want a changing display without needing a large plant. The shifting colours work well near a path or seating spot where you can notice the day-to-day difference. The pads give shade for fish and help soften the water surface, while the compact footprint makes it easier to keep open water visible in a small pond. Clear floating debris so buds on Solfatare can rise and open cleanly at the surface. If Solfatare makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. Keep a small patch of open water near Solfatare so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Keep a small patch of open water near Solfatare so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Keep a small patch of open water near Solfatare so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. Keep a small patch of open water near Solfatare so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge.

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