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Nymphaea 'Sulphurea'

Water Lily
Availability:
Out of stock
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
in stock, ready to be shipped
Availability:
Out of stock
Original price £0.00 - Original price £0.00
Original price £0.00
£11.70
£9.10 - £33.35
Current price £11.70
Type: Kit
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 'Sulphurea'

Nymphaea 'Odorata Sulphurea' is a hardy water lily with a tidy, clumping habit. It grows from a rhizome and builds a mat of floating pads, then sends up yellow flowers through summer. People also call it a fragrant yellow water lily, but most sellers keep the full cultivar name. It suits ponds where you want colour without a huge plant racing across the surface.

Appearance

The pads are rounded and sit flat, forming a neat patch of cover. Young leaves can look slightly bronzed, then settle into mid green as the plant matures. Flowers start cup-shaped and open wider into a starry form. They are rich yellow with a bright centre, and you usually notice the scent on warm days. The blooms sit on the surface or just above it in calm water, and they look balanced against the leaf raft rather than towering over it.

Care Guide

Give it calm water and as much sun as you can. Plant it in a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost, then top with washed gravel. Start the basket a little shallower if you are planting late in spring, then lower it once the pads are reaching the surface strongly. A practical long-term depth is around 30–60 cm of water over the crown, deeper in large ponds as long as leaves still reach the surface easily. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets during the growing season and remove old leaves as they yellow to keep the plant fresh. It is fully hardy, so leave it in deeper water over winter so the rhizome stays below ice.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

This is a good fit for small to medium ponds where you want reliable summer colour and a bit of fragrance. The pads provide shade for fish and reduce glare, which helps you see what is happening under the surface. Because it spreads to a moderate patch rather than a whole pond, it is easier to balance with marginal plants. Keep open water around it so the yellow flowers do not get lost in foliage. A wide basket helps Sulphurea spread evenly and usually improves flowering. If you lift Sulphurea for repotting, do it in late spring when new shoots are obvious. Clear floating debris so buds on Sulphurea can rise and open cleanly at the surface. Keep a small patch of open water near Sulphurea so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge.

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.