Nymphaea 'Hollandia'
water lily (syn. Nymphaea Darwin )
Delivery options
- Standard £5.95
This pond plant dies right back in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
- Position: full sun
- Depth of water: 45-75cm
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to September
- Hardiness: fully hardy
'Hollandia' boasts large delicately-tinted double-pink, peony-style flowers that can bloom into the later part of the season, distinguishing it from many other lilies. This larger variety of lily is well-suited for medium to large ponds. Best planted at a depth of 45-75cm (18-30in), it needs plenty of space, so makes an excellent choice for a lake or large, deep, wildlife pond, where the dark green leaves create a shady underwater habitat for native fish and amphibians. The shade cast by the foliage also helps to check the spread of algae.
Water lilies flourish in still water, so do not plant them near a pond pump or fountain, particularly where the water can splash onto their leaves. These waterlilies are potted up (using a suitable aquatic compost) into aquatic pots. These pots are made of a fine mesh, which allows water to circulate through the compost, providing the plants with both oxygen and nutrients. As they are already potted, all you need to do is to place the pot into the pond, but this young plant will need potting up into a larger aquatic pot within a few months. Initially the pot should be placed on a stack of bricks so the leaves float on the surface of the water. As the plant matures, remove one layer of bricks at a time, gradually lowering the plant deeper into the pond until the desired depth has been reached. If you are placing this water lily in the autumn or winter when it has died back, place it at a depth of 50-60cm. Then in the spring repot it into a larger pot and lower as the plant grows.