Nymphaea Florida Sunset

The Nymphaea 'Florida Sunset' is a hardy large water lily characterised by its large, emergent, peony-shaped flowers in a soft peachy yellow with coppery and pink reflections, slightly fragrant. This variety is also distinguished by its leaves speckled with violet on an olive green background. The plant is vigorous and easy to grow. This water lily is suitable for medium to large-sized bodies of water, with its rhizome planted under 40 cm to 1 m of water.

The Nymphaea 'Florida Sunset' is a horticultural creation by Slocum dating back to 1996. It is a aquatic perennial with deciduous foliage that belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family. This plant develops numerous floating leaves measuring 15 to 20 cm in diameter on a mature plant starting from spring. The new leaves are dark olive green and heavily speckled with violet. The undersides of the leaves are reddish and also speckled with violet. They have a closed round sinus, separating 2 overlapping lobes. Each lobe ends in a 1.2 cm point. The petiole is brown and covered with a thick down. The plant will reach a minimum spread of 1.50 m. Flowering usually begins in June and continues until late summer. The rounded flowers have around 36 petals. They measure 15 to 20 cm in diameter and are carried slightly above the surface. These corollas open during the day and close at night. 

Each flower lives for 4 to 5 days before withering, it returns underwater and is then replaced by another flower. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing numerous seeds. The fruit ripens underwater and releases the 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 planted.

Choose varieties of water lilies that are easy, hardy, and floriferous, and above all, those that have a size proportionate to your pond. With their perfectly shaped flowers, Nymphaeas are among the most beautiful perennial pond plants. 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, 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 bears flowers that are sometimes diurnal, sometimes nocturnal, and occasionally fragrant.