Whether you live in a colder climate or you’re looking for water lilies that don’t require full sun, here are ten shade-tolerant varieties that will grow well in your home.
Golden cup Nymphaea ‘Marliacea Chromatella’
Among the many varieties of shade-tolerant water lily, the Golden cup Nymphaea ‘Marliacea Chromatella’ is one of the most popular varieties. It has olive-green leaves with purple markings. The inflorescence is shaped like a cup. It may have seven rows of pale-yellow petals.
This water lily is an excellent oxygenator. It is also a great ornamental plant. It thrives in relatively still water. It is a good addition to any outdoor water feature.
The Golden cup Nymphaea ‘Marliacea chromatella’ can grow in a variety of conditions. It can tolerate partial shade, but it prefers full sun. In a well-established colony, the leaves may have to be periodically removed to maintain the healthy growth of the plant.
The plant is named after the nymphs that are present in the water. The nymphs are tiny, and they can be found in the center of the inflorescence. The flower nymphs can live up to five days. Despite its small size, the Golden cup Nymphaea can still produce beautiful blooms.
In addition to its ornamental qualities, the Nymphaea has a favorable growth and spread rate. It is a good candidate for a low-water pond or a garden in a shaded area. It can grow in a shallow area, so long as it has enough room to spread.
Nymphaea ‘Colorado’
Developed by Kirk Strawn in 1994, the Colorado hardy water lily is a medium-sized flower with a spreading habit of growth and a pleasant fragrance. With a lifespan of about 10 years, this plant is a great choice for a water garden.
In the right conditions, the Colorado water lily grows to three inches in height and spreads up to four feet. The flowers are a nice size, with 26 to 28 petals. They are light peach in color, with a yellow center. The flowers are star-like and have a pleasant fragrance.
The Colorado hardy water lily is tolerant to shade. During the growing season, it is best to place the plant in full sun to partial shade. The flowers of the Colorado water lily are quite colorful and are a great addition to a water garden.
The Colorado hardy water lily can grow to a height of eight inches when the flowers have matured. At that point, the plant will be a good size for outdoor containers. The water lily will require occasional maintenance, but it will reward you with blooms that are beautiful to cut.
The Colorado hardy water lily has a long blooming season. The flowers of the Colorado water lily will stand two to three inches above the water, with a light peach centre and light pink outer petals.
Nymphaea ‘Sioux’
‘Sioux’ is a hardy water lily that grows in a range of shades. It’s ideal for medium ponds with full to partial sunlight. It can grow up to eight inches (20 cm) in diameter. It can be planted in containers of two gallons.
It is a hybrid between the species Nymphaea odorata and Nymphaea Mexicana. The leaves are green with a golden center and are marked with maroon and purple blotches. The flowers start out yellow but deepen to blush-like apricot. The blooms reopen each morning for up to five days.
‘Sioux’ also has a high number of offsets, which makes it a good choice for large ponds. It can be grown in a variety of containers, depending on the size of the pond. It has a medium growth rate and is easy to maintain. It should be repotted every three years, and it can grow for several years after that.
‘Sioux’ can also be used in medium-sized water gardens. It should be planted at a depth of six inches when first grown. It’s leaves are large in surface area, making it a good choice for ponds with full to partial sunlight.
‘Sioux’ flowers also have a light and ephemeral quality. They stay open for several days, but they aren’t as large as other water lilies.
Nymphaea ‘Hermine’
Among the first spring bloomers, the shade-tolerant water lily Nymphaea ‘Hermine’ is a great choice for medium-sized ponds or containers. Its pure white star-shaped flowers are a welcome sight in any small pond.
Hermine is a hardy water lily that grows in 30-75 cm of water. It produces clusters of 3 or more flowers. It is an excellent choice for small ponds and container gardens, and does well in full sun to part shade. It also helps to suppress the growth of algae in ponds.
The flowers of the shade-tolerant water lily Nymphaea “Hermine” are attractive and have a long pointed tip. They come in a wide range of colors, including white, pink and purple. They can also be multi-petaled.
The leaves of the water lily Nymphaea are round, oval, and bright green, with bronzy purple undersides. They have petioles (leaf stalks), which support the leaves. They are also suitable for growing in large ponds or containers. The plant can grow to approximately 1.2 feet tall.
The Marliac hybrids Nymphaea ‘Gonnere’ and Nymphaea ‘Gloriosa’ are great choices for small ponds. They have white, canary-yellow, or red stamens.
Another hardy water lily is Nymphaea ‘Postlingberg’. It has a bronze-brown color when young, but turns to a more bright green color when grown in full sun. The plant is robust and grows to a large size.
Nymphaea ‘James Brydon’
Among the many types of water lilies, Nymphaea ‘James Brydon’ is the most shade-tolerant and adaptable variety. This popular cultivar has an abundance of beautiful blooms, making it perfect for medium-sized pools or ponds.
This water lily has an apple scent, which is a welcome addition to any pond. Its flowers are shaped like rose red cups, surrounded by yellow stamens.
These water lilies are adapted to grow in ponds, lakes, or barrels, and they are perfect for small- to medium-sized ponds. They are suitable for shadier areas, but they can still thrive in full sunlight.
The leaves are round in shape, with overlapping sinuses. They start out burgundy in colour, and they gradually lighten to a deep green. The foliage can be cut into individual plants for planting. The mature specimens may reach four feet in height.
This water lily has a compact growth habit. When planted in a pond, it will usually spread to 30 inches in length. The waxy heart-shaped foliage will provide a great landing spot for small amphibians.
Nymphaea ‘James-Brydon’ is a lily that grows well in ponds, barrels, and medium-sized pools. It has a fragrance of ripe apples, which is a welcome addition to any water feature. It is an award winning variety.
Nymphaea ‘Atropurpurea’
Several shade-tolerant water lilies are available for your pond. Nymphaea Atropurpurea is a good choice for full sun or part shade. This medium sized waterlily has rich red blooms. It should be planted in a 5L fine mesh basket.
Specimens have a height of up to three feet. They are also known as Nymphaea alba. They are very striking in a pond. Their flat blooms are 18cm wide. The flowers have a very fragrant fragrance. The plant is suitable for medium to large ponds.
Nymphaea Atropurpurea’s flowers are rich red and flat. It is a French hybrid introduced by Latour-Marliac in 1899. It is a popular lily.
Water lilies are tropical plants that prefer to grow in deep water. They are also very hardy. They will survive a mild winter. They are also great for small ponds.
This plant is popular for its spectacular colors. The flowers are dark crimson red and star shaped. The flowers are surrounded by maroon colored lily pads. It can grow to a height of up to 60cm.
Its flowers change colors over a four day period. The yellow flowers gradually deepen to orange and red. This variety is a good bloomer.
The waterlily is a tropical plant that can grow in both warm and cool climates. It is hardy to cold weather, but it does not do well in frosty climates. It also thrives in swampy margins.
Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Helvola’
Whether you want to add color to your water or improve the overall look of your pond, there is a variety of shade-tolerant water lilies to choose from. These aquatic perennials can add a splash of color to your pond or container garden and also help remove toxins from your water.
These water lilies are popular with fish. They eliminate heavy metals and other toxins from the water. They also produce bright flowers and are an excellent choice for a small pond or container garden. Water lilies are very low maintenance and they have a strong scent. They also provide a comfortable place for small amphibians and other thirsty insects.
The Blue Cloud water lily is native to New Guinea and produces pale blue flowers during summer. These flowers stay close at night. They are very fragrant and they bloom repeatedly. The Blue Cloud water lily leaves can be 2.5 feet long and up to four inches wide.
The Pygmaea Helvola water lily is a miniature waterlily that is perfect for smaller ponds. It has beautiful marbled foliage and a long bloom season. It is perfect for small backyard water gardens and ponds.
Pygmaea Helvola has a small flower that is approximately two inches wide. It has upward-curving petals.
