Nymphaea alba Delicata

Nymphaea alba 'Delicata' is an old French cultivar that is still sought after for its perfectly shaped white flower. The plant has medium vigour, its leaves are a beautiful glossy green, and it blooms throughout the summer season. This hardy water lily is suitable for medium-sized bodies of water. A classic in aquatic gardens!

Nymphaea alba 'Delicata' is sometimes marketed under the name Nymphaea 'Delicata'. It is a horticultural cultivar by Lagrange (France) dating back to the 1910s. It is a aquatic perennial with deciduous foliage that belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family. This plant develops numerous floating leaves measuring 12 to 15cm in diameter in mature plants starting from spring. The leaves are almost round and have a slightly open sinus. Their upper surface is a vibrant green and glossy. The plant will reach 20cm in height when flowering and spread over 90cm to 1.20m. The abundant flowering usually begins in June and continues until late summer. The single flowers measure 10cm in diameter and float on the water. Their yellow stamen centre is very visible. These corollas open during the day and close at night. Each flower lives for 4 to 6 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 pond plants. Most of them bloom for long weeks, until early autumn. Water lilies are essential aquatic plants for maintaining the balance of a garden pond, as they contribute to water oxygenation. 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.