Nymphaea Bateau

Nymphaea 'Bateau' is a charming hardy water lily with a medium-sized growth whose brilliant red to fuchsia pink flowering always makes a big impression. Not very large, star-shaped and enhanced with gold, surrounded by an almost white collar, they often bloom in small groups, nestled among beautiful round leaves of a glossy dark green. This variety is suitable for medium-sized and not too deep bodies of water, its rhizome should be planted under 20 to 60cm of water.

Nymphaea 'Bateau' is an old French horticultural creation by Latour-Marliac dating back to 1969. It is a aquatic perennial with deciduous foliage that belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae. This plant develops numerous floating leaves measuring 12 to 15cm long in a mature plant, starting from spring. The leaves are ovate, open at the sinus, attached to long and slender petioles. When the plant is shallowly rooted, it is not uncommon for the leaves to emerge above the water, as is the case with some tropical water lilies. Their colour is a glossy dark green on the upper side, with occasional brown spots. The plant spreads to about 80cm. The abundant flowering usually begins in June and continues until late summer. The flowers measure 10 to 12cm in diameter and float on the water. These corollas open during the day and close in the evening. On the periphery of the corolla, the sepals are white and then light pink with dark pink stripes. The petals range from fuchsia pink to intense red, and the centre features numerous yellow stamens. Each flower lives for 4 to 5 days before wilting, it returns underwater and is replaced by another flower. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing numerous seeds. The fruit ripens underwater and releases floating seeds that will eventually sink and germinate in the mud. Water lilies are hardy as long as their rhizome does not freeze in winter. It is important to ensure that the water does not freeze at the depth where they are installed.

Choose varieties of water lilies that are easy, hardy, and floriferous, and above all, ones that are proportionate to your pond. With their perfectly shaped flowers, water lilies are among the most beautiful perennial pond plants. Most of them bloom for long weeks, until the beginning of autumn. Water lilies are essential aquatic plants for maintaining the balance of a garden pond, as they contribute to the oxygenation of the water. Their leaves floating on the water's surface will provide shade and shelter for your fish, which in turn will protect them from predatory insects such as aphids.

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