Nymphaea White 1000 Petals - Water lily

The Nymphaea 'White 1000 Petals' is a water lily of very large development, unique for its white flowers, filled with 130 to 150 petals. Its flowers are extraordinary, perfectly highlighted by large round leaves of a beautiful olive green. This lovely plant needs little time, space, and flowers; it is reserved for collectors who own large ponds! The rhizome of this water lily should ideally be planted at a depth between 40 and 70 cm.

The hybrid water lily 'White 1000 Petals' is a horticultural creation by Perry D. Slocum (Perry's Water Gardens, USA) dating back to 1991. It is a perennial with deciduous foliage belonging to the Nymphaeaceae family. Starting from spring, this plant develops numerous floating leaves measuring up to 25 cm in diameter in a mature plant. The leaves are almost round, and their sinus is nearly closed. Their colour is a uniform olive green. The particularly vigorous plant spreads over 1.50 m and up to 2 m. The flowering, which is not very abundant, usually begins in June and continues until September. The double flowers measure 14 to 17 cm in diameter and open on the water's surface. Their petals are white, and the stamens and the centre are yellow. These corollas open during the day and close in the evening. Each flower lives for 4 to 5 days before wilting; the flower returns underwater, and another replaces it. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing numerous seeds. The fruit ripens underwater and releases floating seeds that eventually sink and germinate in the mud. Water lilies are hardy as long as their rhizome does not freeze in winter. Make sure that the water does not freeze at the depth where they are planted.

Choose varieties of water lilies that are easy, hardy, and floriferous, and above all, those that have a size proportionate to your pond. Water lilies are among the most beautiful perennial pond plants with their perfectly shaped flowers. Most of them bloom for long weeks until the beginning of autumn. The water lily is an essential aquatic plant for the proper balance of a garden pond, as it contributes to the oxygenation of the water. Its leaves floating on the water's surface will provide shade and shelter for your fish, protecting them from predatory insects such as aphids.

The genus name comes from the Greek nymphaia and the Latin name nymphaea, which means "water lily". The nymphs of Greek and Latin mythology inspired them. Nymphaea bears flowers that are sometimes diurnal, sometimes nocturnal, and occasionally fragrant.