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Nymphaea 'Virganilis'

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
£9.10
£9.10 - £33.35
Current price £9.10
Type: Loose Root
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 'Virganilis'

Nymphaea 'Virginalis' is a hardy white water lily that many gardeners rate as one of the best all-round whites. Your list spells it Virganilis, but it is almost certainly the well known cultivar Virginalis. It forms a compact, free-flowering plant with floating pads and white, fragrant flowers through summer, and it is usually sold as Virginalis white water lily.

Appearance

Virginalis produces rounded pads that can show a purple-bronze tint when young before they turn dark green. Flowers are pure white, cup-shaped, and lightly scented, with a clear yellow centre. The blooms look crisp and well formed rather than loose, and the plant tends to flower freely once it has settled. In bright weather, the white flowers stand out strongly against darker pads.

Care Guide

Plant it in a wide basket with loam based compost and top with washed gravel. Give it full sun and calm water. Lower the pot in stages and aim for a medium to deeper position once established. A sensible working range for many garden ponds is around 45–100 cm of water over the crown, adjusted so pads reach the surface without strain. Feed with aquatic fertiliser tablets through summer. Remove old leaves and spent blooms to reduce debris. It is hardy, so leave it in deeper water over winter below ice.

Suitability for Garden Ponds

Virginalis suits medium to large ponds, but it can work in smaller ponds if you keep it in a basket and control the spread. The leaf raft provides shade and cover for fish and amphibians, and the bright white flowers give a clean focal point. Give it open water around the plant so the white blooms do not get hidden by other surface growth. Keep a small patch of open water near Virganilis so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. If you lift Virganilis for repotting, do it in late spring when new shoots are obvious. If Virganilis makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth. A wide basket helps Virganilis spread evenly and usually improves flowering. Keep a small patch of open water near Virganilis so you can enjoy the flowers from the edge. A wide basket helps Virganilis spread evenly and usually improves flowering. Clear floating debris so buds on Virganilis can rise and open cleanly at the surface. If Virganilis makes lots of leaves but few flowers, feeding often helps more than changing depth.

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.