What does a white water lily or water lily look like and where does it grow? Water lily - water lily, nymphea, beautiful, fabulous flower What does a water lily flower look like

This plant is called a water lily after the shape of its ovary. Well, with the word lily in the name, everything is extremely simple: this word has become a collective word and means “beautiful flower.”

According to ancient myth, a nymph (i.e., a Greek mermaid) who died from unrequited love for Hercules turned into a white water lily (is this where the belief that the flower helps reciprocate feelings comes from?). The Hellenes considered the water lily a symbol of beauty and eloquence; girls decorated their heads and tunics with garlands of them. Elena the Beautiful also had such a wreath at her wedding with Menelaus, and the entrance to the newlyweds’ bedroom was decorated with water lilies

The Italian legend is even sadder. The swamp king set out to achieve marriage with the beautiful Melinda, and one day, when she admired the yellow egg pods (the Romans for some reason called her a symbol of treason and deceit), he turned into a stump from which he could reach the flower he liked, and then went under the water with the beauty. And where this happened, white flowers with a yellow core appeared on the water.

The Scandinavians, of course, could not do without elves. Their ancient legends claim that they sleep in the depths of the flower during the day, and at night, swinging the pestle like a bell tongue, they call their brothers for a conversation and ride on the water in water lily boats.

The North American Indians created a legend about how two stars laid claim to an arrow shot into the sky by a dying great leader. Rushing after her, they collided, and sparks rained down from the sharp impact. Having fallen down, they fell into the water and turned into white water lilies - lilies

Since time immemorial, this flower has been an object of worship and adoration among the northwestern Germans. They called the white water lily the swan flower and revered it so much that they even depicted 7 flowers in their coat of arms. These flowers are also depicted on the Frisian banner and coat of arms of the German province of Groningen.

However, in ancient Germany they not only revered this flower, but were also a little afraid of it. Legends tell that in ponds and lakes among the water lilies there live nyxes - beauties with very sweet and friendly faces and fish tails. They lure people into the water and then drag them to the bottom. In the Black Forest, in Germany, there is even a lake named Mummelsee - from the old German die Mumme - nymph. The lake is supposedly simply overrun with these creatures...

In Slavic mythology, nymphs and nyxes were replaced by mermaids - water beauties with a pale, beautiful face, a slender figure and a braid below the knees. Mermaids, like nyxes, also love water lilies and even sometimes turn into them, which is why the white water lily is often called the “mermaid” flower.

And the week following Trinity Day was popularly called “Russian”. There is a belief that it was at this time and a little earlier - in Orthodox calendar On the seventh (Trinity-Semitic) and eighth (the same “mermaid”) weeks after Easter, mermaids most often come ashore. At midnight, in the light of the moon, they dance in circles, and sometimes they climb trees and laugh, attracting the attention of young boys and girls. And bad luck will come to those who succumb to their charms - they will be tickled to death and drowned. You can protect yourself from attacks by mermaids using a talisman made of wormwood or lovage (dawn grass).

But the mermaids were not the only danger. There was a belief that where these water beauties frolic, grass grows thicker and bread ripens better. This is how the ritual of seeing off mermaids from the village to the field arose. The girl, dressed as a mermaid, was led by a crowded procession outside the outskirts, where she was pushed into the village, after which she quickly ran away to the village. Over time, this ritual turned into one of the many amusements of Semik and mermaid week - chasing mermaids.

Another mention of the water lily in Russian folklore - it was this plant that was called the famous “overcome grass.” The rhizome, hung in the house, protected against various misfortunes, and carried with you as a talisman, helped to overcome various life difficulties. It was recommended to stock up on overpowering grass before childbirth, before an important date, or when going to court.

As is known from Greek mythology, nymphs are deities of nature: forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and seas. It's no surprise that the flowers named after them are beautiful. The genus water lily, or nymphea, includes about 50 species of herbaceous aquatic perennials with fleshy rhizomes. The leaves of the nymphs are round or heart-shaped, with a deep notch at the base, floating on the surface of the water.

The flowers are large, surprisingly beautiful star-shaped or cup-shaped. They can be of all kinds of colors - white, cream, dazzling yellow, orange, pink, dark red and even blue. There are varieties with single, semi-double and double flowers. Some of the water lilies open during the day, others at night. Some have a pleasant aroma. The fruits are berry-shaped and ripen under water.

In very swampy places, the rhizomes of some water lilies, and in particular the white water lily, are sometimes intertwined so tightly that they form “islands” on which you can even walk, they are so strong. In the rhizome of the water lily, as in other parts of the plant, there is a complex system of air channels, which can be seen even with the naked eye. These channels not only ensure the plant’s breathing, but also help the leaves stay in the water column and on its surface.

Water lilies usually bloom in northern reservoirs in June, but the maximum number of flowers can be observed in August. In the southern regions, water lilies bloom already in May. Their flowers rise from the water and bloom in the morning, and in the evening they close and go back under water. If the weather is cloudy, then the water lilies do not rise from their watery bed.

Walking along the bank of a river or lake, you can see snow-white flowers surrounded by large green plates of leaves, as if floating on the surface of the water - these are nymphs or water lilies. However, such names are not often used in everyday use; the plant is usually called a water lily. A water lily, as a rule, is called a water lily, which is very common in our reservoirs.

According to legend, the flower received its Latin name - nymphea - in honor of a Greek nymph who forever plunged into the underwater depths because of unrequited love. Of course, the lifestyle itself amazing plant puts you in a fairytale mood. In many cultures, the water lily, extending flowers from the depths of the river to the surface, is associated with mermaids, nymphs and other mystical inhabitants of reservoirs.

In ancient Egyptian culture, water lily flowers received a lot of attention. There is evidence, both in the form of scrolls and stone carvings, depicting this beautiful plant. The lotus, as the Nile water lily is usually called, is the most common motif for decorating the capitals of the columns of ancient Egyptian temples, and in particular the complex at Karnak.

Probably, thanks to the bright yellow core of the inflorescence, the blue lotus, growing from the sacred depths of the Nile, was considered the receptacle of the great Ra. The Sun God came out of the flower in the morning, illuminating the world around us, and returned back at night. Due to its mystical significance, ancient priests widely used the Egyptian water lily in funeral rituals. Dried nymphs were discovered in the sarcophagus of Pharaoh Ramses II.

Of course, such a beautiful flower could not remain without the attention of artists. The great impressionist Claude Monet painted a series of paintings where the central motif is an old pond, the entire surface of which is densely covered with beautiful pink water lilies.

However, in addition to inspiration, nymphs also bring quite earthly, practical benefits. Water lilies can be processed for the starch found in the leaves, stems and especially the fleshy submerged roots.

The plant is edible. Young shoots, flower ovaries and roots are used in the preparation of traditional Thai dishes. The water lily is served both boiled and fried.

Hindus collect the dried leaves and stems of the plant from dry bodies of water during the dry season, and then use it to feed livestock.

Nymphea is also used in folk medicine:

• Water lily decoction is used as a cosmetic to remove pimples, blackheads, freckles, and skin inflammations.
• A tincture of the root helps with indigestion.
• Young flowers and shoots contain sedatives and are used as a sedative.

[!] Egyptian water lily contains an alkaloid aporphine, which has a psychedelic effect on humans, and is prohibited in some countries, including Russia.

For a gardener and landscape designer, water lilies are a magnificent decoration for a pond. Moreover, in order to admire the flowers of a beautiful plant, it is not at all necessary to own a huge plot of land with a lake or pond. The water lily can be grown in an artificial reservoir, a container the size of an ordinary bathtub.

In addition to the beautiful inflorescences that are pleasing to the eye, the wide leaves of the plant bring practical benefits to the pond. The plates floating on the surface provide a lot of shade and prevent the development of microscopic algae. Thus, the water lily maintains purity and prevents the water from blooming.

Aquarists keep tropical water lily species at home. True, when decorating an aquarium, only the underwater leaves of the plant are used; the above-water part with the flower ovaries is completely removed. However, to decorate the fish kingdom, as a rule, varieties with expressive, for example spotted-tiger, coloring of leaf plates are taken. Effective artificial lighting promotes the appearance of bright and contrasting pigmentation, so that the underwater part is in no way inferior in beauty to the inflorescences.

From the point of view of scientific classification, water lilies (lat. Numphaea) belong to the genus of herbaceous aquatic perennial plants family of water lilies (lat. Numphaeacae). The most famous and widespread relative of the nymphaeum from the water lilies is the water lily, and the most famous, due to the outstanding size of the leaves, is Victoria.

The flower is widespread. Nympheas, numbering a total of about fifty species, grow in almost all corners of the globe. Plants are distinguished by a wide range of inflorescence colors. In nature, water lilies are found with white, blue, pink, blue and yellow petals.

All species have in common a similar structure of leaves - large, rounded, sometimes with a pointed end, smooth or jagged edges and a deep notch at the point of attachment to the stem. The plates extend from the root on long flexible petioles and float on the surface of the reservoir. However, in some types of water lilies, some of the leaves and flowers are not located on the water, but rise above the surface on elastic stems.

Water lilywhite(lat. Numphaea alba) or European white water lily. The species is distributed throughout almost all of Europe and is found in some regions of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as in India.

The plant has a large fleshy root, located horizontally almost on the very surface of the bottom soil and reaching a length of 50-70 cm. The adventitious roots holding the nymph go 15-30 cm deep. The snow-white water lily forms an underwater bush with 10-20 flexible stems ending rounded leaves floating on the surface 20-25 cm in diameter. On the water, one plant covers an area of ​​up to one and a half meters with its leaves. At the height of summer, a flowering period begins, usually lasting from July to August - the nymphea blooms a large white flower with a yellow core.

[!] As paradoxical as it sounds, in nature there is a red subspecies of the white water lily - Nymphaea alba f. Rosea. The plant was discovered in Sweden in Lake Fagertarn. Numerous tourists visiting the reservoir almost brought the species to the brink of extinction, but it was still managed to be preserved, taking it under state protection.

Water lilysnow-white(lat. Numphaea candida) - the species inhabits Eurasia. Widely distributed in the European part of Russia, Western and Eastern Siberia. In addition, it is found in water bodies of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. It is very reminiscent of the white water lily and is probably a subspecies of it.

Water lilyblue(lat. Numphaea caerulea) - the famous sacred blue Egyptian lotus or lily.

Initially growing along the Nile, the flower gradually spread throughout East Africa, India and Thailand.

Externally, it is distinguished by wide, 30-40 cm in diameter, leaves and relatively small, 10-15 cm, flowers. The color of the inflorescence can vary noticeably from pale blue to blue and even purple.

Water lilylotus(lat. Numphaea lotus) is another famous flower, which is often called white lotus, tiger lotus, Egyptian white lily. Despite the use of the word “lotus” in the name, from a botanical point of view this plant is not related to the lotus genus (Latin Nelumbo).

The culture is widespread in East Africa and some reservoirs in Southeast Asia.

[!] It is interesting that a subspecies of such a heat-loving water lily can be found even in Europe. Water lily lotus subspecies thermal (lat. Numphaea lotus var. termalis) grows in thermal ponds of Romania and Hungary.

The stems of the plant are elastic and capable of holding young leaves, as well as inflorescences blooming above the surface of the water at a height of up to 40 cm. The color of the petals is traditionally white, but sometimes, depending on external conditions, they can be pink.

K. white, K. snow-white, K. blue, K. lotus

Water lily toApskaya(lat. Numphaea capensis) - native to South Africa. One of the features of the species is its excellent tolerance to long dry periods. The root of this water lily is able to survive for some time even in a completely dehydrated reservoir in order to sprout young shoots at the beginning of the rainy season, when the riverbed is filled with water again.

Thanks to its vitality and unpretentiousness, the water lily was resettled and took root well in the freshwater bodies of the coast of Florida, as well as in Australia. The heat-loving flower feels best at shallow depths and in clear water with plenty of light.

Painted water lily(lat. Numphaea colorata) lives in the tropical part of East Africa.

The petals of this beautiful water lily have a purple tint. Green leaves with a diameter of 20-25 cm form a large bush on the water. The plant has a long flowering period and does not shed its petals even when the temperature drops to 18°C. The water lily served as an excellent material for fairly persistent and at the same time brightly colored hybrid varieties.

Mexican water lily(lat. Numphaea mexicana) is widespread in southern reservoirs in the United States and, of course, Mexico. The beautiful sunflower is commonly called the yellow, Mexican, or sometimes banana water lily.

The Mexican water lily takes root well in suitable conditions. The plant quickly reproduces both by seeds and root shoots-stolons and easily captures a new habitat, as happened in a freshwater swampy basin in California.

The water lily is distinguished by yellow-green inflorescences with a bright orange core. Round green leaves floating on the surface of the water on the underwater side usually have a purple-brown tint. The Mexican water lily blooms in the summer, although in warmer areas it can bloom in the spring and drop its flowers with the onset of heat.

Giant water lily(lat. Numphaea gigantea) is a subtropical species found in the waters of Australia and New Guinea.

It stands out for its large blue-blue flowers with a bright yellow core and large rounded floating leaves with jagged edges, reaching 60-80 cm in diameter.

Scented water lily(lat. Numphaea odorata) inhabits almost the entire North American continent. The plant is also called fragrant or American water lily.

This fragrant nymph is very common in the United States and is as typical as the white water lily for Russia. With its white inflorescence with a bright yellow core, the plant even outwardly resembles the inhabitant of our ponds, differing only in its stronger aroma.

American gardeners and landscape designers enjoy using the fragrant water lily to decorate artificial ponds.

Fluffy water lily(lat. Numphaea pubescens) is a tropical flower, sometimes called hairy or pink water lily.

This type of nymph is found almost everywhere in Asia. The water lily grows in countries such as India, Taiwan, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. In addition, it was introduced and took root in Australia and New Guinea.

This heat-loving tropical flower does not tolerate temperatures below 15°C. It lives in bodies of water with calm, standing water and low acidity.

The rounded leaves floating on the surface, approximately 20-25 cm in diameter, have uneven jagged edges, and the lower underwater part of the plate is covered with a kind of thin hair. The stems of the plant also have villi, for which this type of nymph received the prefix - fluffy or hairy. The flowers are usually white or pink, but lilac and even violet hybrids are found.

The fluffy water lily can be purchased as aquarium plant. As a rule, aquarists remove the entire above-water part of the plant, leaving only the underwater foliage.

K. cape, K. painted, K. Mexican, K. fragrant

Water lily in landscape design

When constructing a reservoir on a personal plot, the biggest difficulty is that it is necessary to fit the initially artificial object into the natural environment. In case of an error, instead of a harmonious element of the landscape, you may end up with a banal pit with water.

Of course, the best assistant in this matter is nature itself, or rather its plant part, flora, and to be absolutely precise, the most aristocratic and beautiful inhabitant of reservoirs - the water lily. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine something more natural and noble than the water surface of a pond, covered with beautiful water lily flowers.

The water lily can be easily combined with any vegetation usually planted along the banks: hosta, calamus. In addition, the nymph does not in any way interfere with the life of underwater inhabitants, if there are any in the reservoir. The foliage of the plant creates shade, provides underwater shelter for fish and has a beneficial effect on the purity of the water.

However, in decoration, as in any matter, it is necessary to observe moderation. Water lilies should not be planted throughout the pond. It will be better if the crop occupies about a third of the total area. This proportion of clean water to the green mass of foliage looks most impressive, and in addition provides the opportunity for the free growth and development of each individual water lily bush.

Growing and caring for water lilies

Selection of varieties

If there is a pond on the site, you need to decide on the plant variety. If we approach it from a practical point of view and do not take into account decorative parameters, as well as personal aesthetic preferences, then the most important difference between the varieties is the heat-loving nature and size of the plants.

Of course, the most suitable type of water lily in terms of winter hardiness will be plants from a nearby pond, river or lake. Many gardeners do this: replanting an ordinary white water lily does not require special skills or extra costs.

However, if you want to admire a more exotic plant with bright colors, you can purchase a cold-resistant hybrid of a tropical species.

Two centuries ago, the French breeder Joseph Marliac set himself the goal of adapting beautiful tropical water lilies to harsh climate conditions. He was engaged in crossing local winter-hardy plants with brightly colored heat-loving varieties. The result of the work of the French breeder was more than six dozen beautiful varieties of water lilies, whose own name was added in honor of the master - Marliacea.

Work on breeding hybrids is ongoing; enthusiasts in all corners of the world are creating and growing new, never-before-seen flowers. Of course, not all varieties are suitable for cultivation in Russia, but you can still choose a bright and unusual nymph suitable for the conditions of our climate.

It is also advisable to take into account the size of the reservoir and the plant being planted.

Dwarf varieties of water lilies, usually called Numphaea pygmaea, are even used for landscaping home aquariums. Therefore, to place children on the site, you can get by with a relatively small container of water. For dwarf water lilies, a layer of water 30 cm deep is sufficient.

Of course, to maintain larger varieties you will need a pond with a depth of 50 to 100 cm. The larger the water surface, the better it will be for the plants: the floating leaves of an adult water lily bush can occupy several meters of the surface area of ​​the pond.

Breeders have developed a huge number of varieties of this aquatic perennial, differing mainly in the shade of the flowers. The most common ones are:

• "Masaniello" (Masaniello) is a perennial with rounded emerald green leaves and large pink flowers decorated with yellow stamens.
• "Aurora" - graceful reddish-orange flowers.
• "Amabilis" (Amabilis) - pink flowers star-shaped with large yellow stamens.

K. "Masaniello", K. "Aurora", K. "Amabilis"

• "Escarboucle" (Carbuncle) is a very bright and decorative red-pink flower.
• "Rene Gerard" (Rene Gerard) - a flower with round pinkish petals.
• "Gladstoniana" (Gladstoniana) - snow-white petals and rich yellow stamens.

K. "Escarboucle", K. "Rene Gerard", K. "Gladstoniana"

• "Pygmaea Helvola" (Pygmaea Helvola) is a miniature variety with purple-green leaves and cream flowers not exceeding 5 cm in diameter.
• "Fire Crest" - star-shaped light pink flowers and dark emerald leaves.
• "Froebelii" (Frobeli) - bright red flowers with orange stamens.

K. "Pygmaea Helvola", K. "Fire Crest", K. "Froebelii"

• "Ellisiana" (Ellisiana) is a compact variety with bright red-pink flowers.
• "Texas Dawn" (Dawn in Texas) - fragrant yellow flowers with a large number petals.
• "Pink Sensation" - cupped pink flowers with bright yellow stamens.

K. "Ellisiana", K. "Texas Dawn", K. "Pink Sensation"

Landing

The simplest and effective way propagation of water lilies - root division. As a rule, it is in the form of a root that the water lily is sold in specialized flower shops. The culture grows quickly and any gardener growing nymphs is forced to limit the plant population by pruning the roots.

Regardless of the origin of the plant, it is best to plant a water lily in the spring, before the beginning of summer. During this period, the water is already warming up, the sun is shining brightly and work on fresh air it becomes easy and pleasant. In addition, the overwintered root of the plant does not yet have time to produce numerous shoots and the plant practically does not suffer.

It should be noted that there are two different ways to plant nymphs. Water lilies are placed either directly in the bottom soil, or in a separate container immersed in a reservoir.

The choice of planting type depends on whether the nymphs are able to exist without outside interference in your pond. Only a very unpretentious hybrid can survive year-round living and wintering in a freezing pond, and then only if the root system is placed at a depth exceeding the freezing point.

[!] The roots of the white water lily, which lives in central Russia, are able to survive complete freezing of water, so that in the spring, after the ice melts, young shoots appear as if nothing had happened.

Planting in a separate container, usually called a basket because of the lattice structure, allows you to pay more attention to the aquatic beauties nymphs:

• Feed the plant by removing the container from the water and adding nutrients;
• In the spring, to stimulate growth, place it at a shallow depth, warmed by the sun;
• Raise to the surface and care for the bush: trim the overgrown root, remove dead shoots and various debris;
• Remove for the winter or lower to a frost-free depth before the onset of cold weather.

It is not at all necessary to use natural soil such as river silt as a substrate. Water lilies grow great on a mixture of organic humus, black soil and sand. When placing soil in a container, you should try to limit the washing out of the soil by water, cover the side holes with mesh material, and pour pebbles on top.

Regardless of the chosen planting method, the water lily root is placed on the very surface of the soil with its living buds facing upward and pressed down with a load, such as a stone. After a short time, the nymphea takes down adventitious roots, clings to the ground and begins to grow young shoots.

Wintering

Wintering is one of the most important stages in growing water lilies, which greatly depends on the climate, the individual characteristics of the reservoir and the persistence of the crop.

Wintering in a pond always involves some risk. To increase the chances of success, it is better to move the container with the water lily to a depth of at least a meter, and after the ice forms, cover the pond with a thick layer of loose snow.

If it is not possible to leave the water lily in a pond for the winter, the root, along with the basket and soil, must be removed and packaged in a sealed plastic bag with water. It is most convenient to store a nymph prepared in this way in a cellar or basement. Under no circumstances should the root be allowed to dry out, and a constant temperature of about 5°C should be maintained.

In such a unique storage chamber, the water lily waits for the onset of spring, so that with the first warming of the water, it can go to gain strength in a well-lit and warmed shallow area of ​​the reservoir.

Diseases and pests

Among the dangers threatening water lilies, it is difficult to single out anything special. Aphids, pond snails and other herbivorous insects love to feast on the delicate greenery of nymphs. The plant can be saved from damage either by regularly collecting pests or by treating the exposed above-water parts of the plant with insecticides.

The water lily, or nymphea, which is popularly called water lily, belongs to a genus of aquatic plants that is part of the Water Lily family. There are about 40 species, most of which are found in regions with temperate and tropical climates, in river backwaters and ponds with slow flows. It grows and develops in water, blooming with exquisite delicate buds on the surface. Today it is quite a popular decoration for artificial reservoirs and ponds in garden design. Along with heat-loving representatives, many winter-hardy varieties have appeared, which makes it possible to grow them in mid-latitudes.

Description

Nymphea refers to dicotyledonous herbaceous perennials with a highly developed, powerful rhizome of creeping type, horizontal development. Its length can reach several meters with a diameter of 5–6 cm. It grows in a pond, fixing itself on the muddy bottom with the help of cord-like formations on the lower part of the root. From multiple underwater buds, leaves and buds grow and emerge, which are attached to worm-shaped petioles and peduncles.

The beginning of flowering occurs in May - June, with activation in mid-summer. The open buds of water lilies remain on the surface of the water until frost. The leaves are large, round in configuration, up to 40 cm in diameter. They have a rich green color and a leathery glossy texture.

The plant tends to close its petals when it rains and at night. When open, the bud lasts up to five days, then the peduncle pulls the faded ovary to the bottom. There the fruit ripens with seeds, which look like fish eggs.

In the natural environment, water lilies are found everywhere in Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea. No less widespread is observed in Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Urals and the North Caucasus. Due to the fact that the plant is on the verge of extinction, it is listed in the Red Book of Russia.

Types and varieties

In nature, two types of water lilies are most often found:

• white nymph (Nymphaea candida);
• white (Nymphaea alba).

Their flowers are extremely decorative, boiling white in color, reaching 15–20 cm in diameter. The multiple contrasting yellow stamens and pistils in the center look no less impressive. There are varietal specimens of other colors: red, pink, lilac.

All the variety of varieties of water lilies are conventionally divided into categories:

• Dwarf - with flowers with a diameter of no more than 10 cm. The entire plant occupies an area of ​​35–60 cm around the perimeter of the water surface. Planting depth - 10–18 cm.
• Small - flowers with a diameter of 10-15 cm, plant length - up to 120 cm. Recommended planting depth - 18-50 cm.
• Medium - buds about 20 cm with a total plant area of ​​120–150 cm. Suitable for reservoirs with a depth of 35–45 centimeters.
• Large ones - planted to a depth of 50–70 cm. When open, the buds have a diameter of 19–25 cm, and on the surface they occupy an area of ​​1.2–1.5 m.

To get a beautiful appearance of the pond, the water surface needs to be filled with vegetation to a maximum of half.

Decorative nymphs are divided into heat-loving and cold-resistant. It is preferable for the first to provide an aqueous environment with a temperature of at least +25 ° C, so they are not suitable for outdoor cultivation. Resistant varieties get along well in open-air ponds.

The most common winter-hardy species groups of water lilies are presented in the table:

Name	Description	Visual photo
Chamaenymphaea	A group of water lilies, including three species, including the small water lily (tetrahedral). This representative comes from North America and Japan. It prefers warmth and is difficult to propagate vegetatively, due to the many lateral shoots on the rhizome. The buds open during the day and close at night. They are predominantly white in color, sometimes with a pink tint. The plant is valued for its compact flowers, which are optimal for decorating small ponds.
Section Eucastalia - consists of frost-resistant species	Red nymph is a herbaceous frost-resistant representative of the Swedish selection. Grows well in cool, fresh water, but prefers plenty of light
	White water lily - spectacularly blooms with snow-white lush flowers with a yellow core. Root system forms slowly, horizontally
	Pure white nymphea - differs from other water lilies in having less double flowers and small size. For this reason it is rarely used for decorative purposes.
	The fragrant water lily is the most popular species. The flowers are fragrant, large, of various colors. Strong lateral shoots are formed on the rhizome. Almost all subspecies are able to withstand temperatures down to -30 °C
	Cone-shaped nymph - endowed with a strong, narrow rhizome with lateral formations like cones. Thanks to them, the plant can easily be propagated by division. Grows naturally in Northern and South America. Used to obtain new hybrid forms
Section Xanthantha	Mexican water lily - characterized by a bright yellow or orange flower color. The species itself is not winter-hardy, but multiple hybrids can easily tolerate cold

The varieties of water lilies described in the table are suitable for cultivation in the middle climatic zone:

Name	Description	Photo
Black princess	A relatively new hybrid with high decorative properties. Valued for its stable immunity to diseases and pests. Suitable for breeding in small and medium-sized reservoirs. Flowers (15–18 cm in diameter) are a rich burgundy color. There are up to 30–40 petals in one bud. At the beginning of flowering, the leaves are dark brown, then gradually turn green. Round in shape, about 20–25 cm in diameter. Planting depth - 45–80 cm
Mayla	A variety of pink water lilies with a star-shaped configuration. The petals are oval-pointed, bristling to the sides. Abundant flowering occurs in August. Bud diameter - 17–19 cm. Rhizome of slow development
Wanvisa	It is notable for its unusual coloring: yellow longitudinal stripes contrast against the red background of the petals. The hybrid is easy to care for. The leaves are large, glossy, green, with a marbled pattern on the surface. Planted to a depth of 60–110 cm
Snowflake	The flowers resemble asters and consist of numerous strap-shaped white petals. There are about 50 of them in one bud. Flowering time falls in July - August. The variety is frost-resistant and tenacious. Planting depth - 50–70 centimeters
Violicious	A hybrid that stands out with bright purple inflorescences and a rich orange center. Sometimes there are dark blue flowers. Despite its exotic appearance, it withstands temperatures down to -30 °C. Winters well under a crust of ice, at depth. Flowers open in July
Denver	A hybrid with small yellow flowers, up to 10 cm in diameter. During flowering, the petals turn white. Sometimes the flowers seem to float above the water, lifted by the peduncles. Recommended planting depth - 30–60 cm

Delicate flowers blooming on the surface of the water captivate with their mysterious beauty, you just want to take them from the reservoir with you and place them on your site to admire them again and again! Water lily, water lily, nymphea - all these are the names of one of the most beautiful aquatic plants of the genus Nymphea, the water lily family, and in India and Egypt some types of nymphaeum have long been called lotus.

Delicate flowers blooming on the surface of the water captivate with their mysterious beauty, you just want to take them from the reservoir with you and place them on your site to admire them again and again!

Water lily, nymphea - all these are the names of one of the most beautiful aquatic plants of the genus Nymphea, the water lily family, and in India and Egypt some types of nymphs have long been called lotus. Just do not confuse them with water lilies sea ​​lilies! By appearance they vaguely resemble beautiful water lilies, only, unlike real flowers, they can move freely along the seabed, since in reality they are primitive sea animals, relatives of starfish.

In warm countries, water lilies grow in shades of lilac, blue and purple.

Various representatives of water lilies can be found in the most remote corners of the globe: traditional white, various shades of pink, burgundy, red, orange, yellow. In warm countries, water lilies grow in shades of lilac, blue and purple. These varieties of nymphs do not survive in the Russian climate; they can only be grown in insulated winter gardens. The rest of the water lilies survive the winter safely and are suitable for growing in central Russia.

Video about planting water lilies

If you are interested in the idea of ​​planting a beautiful water lily on your property, you will need:

• provide in advance a reservoir of the required depth, depending on the type of nymph;
• choose a sunny place to locate the pond;
• calculate how many plants to plant so that they are not crowded;
• prepare suitable soil;
• think about how and where the water lilies will spend the winter.

We create optimal conditions for water lilies

Do you want to admire all summer how a water lily blooms wonderful flowers among floating shiny leaves on the surface of the water? Then the reservoir for it should be placed in a sunny place, so that trees and tall shrubs are located on the north side, without shading the reservoir. The water lily will not bloom in the shade, although some varieties of nymphea need a few hours of sunny color to abundant flowering.

The water lily will not bloom in the shade

You might think beautiful idea place swamp lilies in a small fountain on your site. You shouldn't do this because water lilies like standing water. Any body of water is suitable for growing water lilies: plastic containers, intended for digging in, old cast-iron bathtubs, barrels or a miniature pond created with your own hands. Look how beautiful dwarf water lilies look in small containers - you will find the photo in the corresponding tab.

Based on the depth of the reservoir, choose varieties of water lilies:

• at a depth of up to 15 cm, plant dwarf plants with a flower diameter of up to 10 cm;
• in containers up to 30 cm deep you can grow small water lilies with flowers up to 15 cm in diameter; on the surface of the water the plant will occupy an area of ​​70 to 110 cm;
• medium nymphs with flowers of a slightly larger diameter and an area of ​​about 120-150 cm are planted to a depth of 60 cm;
• at a reservoir depth of 50 cm to 1 m, large lilies feel comfortable, the diameter of their flowers reaches 25 cm, and on the surface of the water one plant occupies an area of ​​\u200b\u200bone and a half to two meters.

When planning how many water lilies to plant in one body of water, keep in mind that the most natural and harmonious surface of the water looks, covered with water lily leaves by a maximum of two-thirds.

At a depth of up to 15 cm, plant dwarf plants with a flower diameter of up to 10 cm

Planting a water lily in the ground

Medium and dwarf water lilies grow well for several seasons in containers ranging from 10 liters to 50 liters. It is convenient to grow water lilies in containers equipped with handles, because you can move them to another place or change the depth of immersion at any time, achieving the desired decorative effect.

Swamp lily thrives in containers filled with a mixture of rotted pine needles, leaf compost and river sand. Place a 2 cm layer of small pebbles at the bottom for drainage, and fill the rest of the container with substrate. Such a substrate will quickly silt up, providing the water lily with the necessary nutrients for good growth and abundant flowering. Place the rhizome of the plant in a container so that the growing point is above the substrate, sprinkle coarse sand on top, then when the container with the water lily is immersed in water, turbidity will not occur.

The container with the lily should first be immersed in a pond to a shallow depth so that the leaves can reach the water surface. With the appearance of new leaves, the river lily moves deeper.

How a water lily overwinters - care in autumn and spring

In deep reservoirs, in which the rhizomes of water lilies are located at a depth of more than 70 cm, that is, below the freezing level of water, plants can safely survive the winter, especially for such a common species in Russia as the white water lily. If you grow nymphs in smaller ponds and containers, in the fall you will need to take care of how your plants will winter.

In the spring, as soon as the water in the reservoirs begins to warm up, the nymphs will wake up

There are various ways wintering water lilies. For example, at the end of October, you can pack containers with water lilies in plastic bags and move them to a frost-free basement, where in winter the temperature is kept at +5 degrees. There is no particular point in immersing them in water in the basement; water lilies will be perfectly preserved even without water, in hermetically sealed plastic bags that will not allow the young leaves and the growing point of the plant to freeze.

Another option is to leave the water lilies in the pond at a depth of about half a meter, throwing snow on top to form a large snow mound, one and a half meters high. Under such shelter, water lilies will not freeze even in severe frosts. You can also move containers with lilies into a pre-dug hole in late autumn and bury them there at a depth of up to 50 cm, and in the spring take them out and return them to the reservoir.

Video about water lilies in the garden

In the spring, as soon as the water in the reservoirs begins to warm up, the nymphs will wake up. If there is a lack of melt water in the reservoir, simply add tap water, and don’t be confused by the fact that after a few days the water will turn cloudy green - after a week it will regain transparency.

In May, remove the water lilies from the pond, remove all withered old leaves and clean the pond itself from organic debris so that the water in it does not “bloom.” Otherwise, nymphs do not need special care; throughout the entire summer season, it is enough to just remove faded flowers and yellowed leaves. As you can see, to grow beautiful water lilies on your site you don’t need much - a pond of suitable depth, sun and water!

Water lilies, or nymphs - aquatic plants from the genus of perennial herbaceous plants. They belong to the water lily or nymphaeaceae family. The genus of these plants is distributed in the temperate and tropical zones of the northern and southern hemispheres. Species that bloom especially beautifully are used for cultural purposes.

Features of water lily

In the family is about fifty species, which grow in places with running water, but a slow flow. Water lilies are very widespread, from tropical-equatorial latitudes to the forest-tundra belt. There are species that winter in freezing waters.

If you look at the water lilies in the photographs, you will see that their stems are powerful rhizomes that can be immersed horizontally in the ground or have the appearance of a tuber. A large number of anchor roots extend down from the tuber or rhizome nodes, which, in turn, hold the water lily in the substrate, and leaves and peduncles grow towards the surface.

There are big differences between underwater leaves and those that float on the surface. The underwater leaves have a broadly lanceolate, filmy shape and look like a cap, which serves to hide the buds and developing above-water leaves. The above-water part of the plant appears on the surface only in summer. The emergent leaves are heart-shaped, rounded or elliptical in shape, with a pronounced basal notch and a dense, leathery surface. The size depends on the type and variety. The color is also varied - green, reddish-burgundy and even variegated, which is why the popularity of using them for decoration is growing.

Passes through all vegetative parts of the plant many air channels. This allows the water lily to both breathe and stay afloat. In addition, the canals contain many sclereid cells. It is still not known for certain what they are intended for. Some say that the plant should not be eaten by snails, others that they strengthen the tissues of the water lily to protect it from damage.

Flowering nymphs

Water lilies bloom in different times, depending on the place of growth. Pictures that are distributed on the Internet give an idea of ​​the beauty of blooming water lilies. Northern plants begin to bloom in early summer, and southern ones in late spring. All nymphs have interesting feature, they close their flowers in the evening or morning and submerge them under water.

In inclement weather they may not appear on the surface at all. The flower of the water lily (as it is popularly called) has a regular symmetrical shape and grows singly. This is clearly visible in the pictures. It has a long flexible peduncle and a double perianth. The size ranges from three to thirty centimeters, depending on the species. The flower emits a strong aroma that attracts insects.

White water lily propagation

Flower propagation is unique and happens as follows:

• The pollinated flower sinks to the bottom, where the berry-shaped multi-seeded leaflet fruit ripens.
• It contains about one and a half thousand small, black seeds, which, after the berry collapses, rush to the surface, as they have a mucous membrane and special floats.
• For some time they float on the surface of the water, where they are carried by the current or eaten by birds and fish because of their resemblance to caviar.
• The surviving seeds germinate and sink to the bottom.

It is worth noting that propagation by seeds is not the only and far from the main method of propagating nymphs. They mainly reproduce by rhizomes.

• White.
• Yellow.
• Red.
• Golden.
• Water lily "Victoria".

The white water lily (see photo in the gallery) is one of the few winter-hardy nymphs. IN natural conditions grows in open areas European, Asian and African reservoirs. leaves white flower large, up to thirty centimeters, dark green in color and milky white flowers, with a light aroma and up to fifteen centimeters in diameter.

Snow-white nymphea (pictures below) – grows in the area middle zone Russia, strongly resembles the species described above. The differences are in the leaf shape and slightly smaller size flower, but has a strong aroma.

Planting and fertilizing nymphs

The best time to plant water lilies is beginning of May, all summer and all September. It is permissible to plant the flower directly into the substrate at the bottom of the reservoir, and in small tanks it is very convenient to plant it in containers. With this planting, it is easier to replant or remove for the winter. It is better to plant in low, wide containers with drainage slits.

When planting water lilies sludge is used, taken at the bottom of any reservoir, although this does not play a big role. Old compost mixed with coarse sand and garden soil is more effective. The fertilizer will be bone meal, which is usually mixed with soil to prevent it from being washed away by water. Although in this case it quickly turns into minerals, dissolves in water and eventually leads to its flowering. The ideal option is to mix fertilizers with clay and place them under the rhizomes.

White water lily flower