Description of Nymphaea 'Vesuve'

Nymphaea 'Vesuve' is a hardy water lily for still ponds and containers, grown under the name Vesuve. It is known for a long flowering season and colour that reads as magenta-red in sun. It is also a classic choice when you want strong red without a fussy plant. Most gardeners simply call it a water lily.

Appearance

Vesuve makes a neat raft of pads that sit flat on the surface. Nearly round green pads with bronze-brown undersides and purple stems. Flowers are fragrant red to magenta-red flowers up to about 18 cm across, with petals that often look slightly creased or concave. Buds rise on short stems and open widest in calm, sunny weather.

Care Guide

Grow Vesuve in full sun if you can, with the pot away from fountains and pump outlets. Plant into a wide aquatic basket with heavy loam based compost and cap with washed gravel so the water stays clear. Lower the basket in stages and settle it at about 15–60 cm over the crown. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through the growing season, pushing them deep into the compost. Remove yellowing leaves and spent flowers as you go to reduce debris. As a hardy lily, it can stay in the pond over winter as long as the crown sits below the ice line.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Vesuve suits ponds where you can spare a surface area of about about 90–120 cm (sometimes a bit more in rich conditions). The pads give shade for fish and tadpoles and cut down glare on the water. If the pond is small, one lily is usually enough and looks more natural than several competing plants.

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