Why Use Small, Or Even Tiny Water Lilies?
You might not have enough garden space, or maybe installing a pond is more of a project than you want to tackle. Perhaps you have a small water feature and thought you would like to add some sort of aquatic flowering plants to it. Maybe you’re new to growing aquatic plants.
Dwarf and miniature water lilies are perfect for all these situations. If you do not have a “water feature” or a pond then these little gems could make the perfect addition to a small patio container pond or a table top water bowl.
In a few words, dwarf water lilies make the joy of growing pond plants even more accessible to more gardeners.
Nymphaea “Helvola”
Helvola is a small yellow hardy water lily and probably the most popular type of dwarf water lily. Commonly available, this variety will bloom all summer in zones 3-11. This is a great choice for growing in containers, even with other aquatic plants (if you have enough room).
Yellow Pygmy Dwarf Water Lily (Nymphaea Pygmaea ‘Helvola’)
Nymphaea “Perry’s Baby Red” has brilliant red double flowers, also a good choice for a container pond.
Hardy Vs. Tropical Water Lilies
Dwarf and miniature water lilies come in both types. The two main differences between tropical and hardy water lilies are:
- The flowers of hardy water lilies float on the surface of the water, tropicals will stick an inch or two out of the water.
- Tropical water lilies like warm Winters, and will thrive in zones 9-11. If it typically freezes where you live more nights than you would like to bring a tropical water lily indoors, then hardy water lilies are the right choice for you. Hardy types thrive in zones 4-11.
Nymphea “Snow Princess” is a dwarf tropical with pure white blooms. Nymphaea “Laydekeri Lilacea” is a dwarf pink tropical water lily, great for container gardens
How To Plant A Dwarf Water Lily
Are There Any Dwarf Lotus Plants?
Yes there are! Nelumbo “Momo Botan” seems to be the most commonly available type. It has pink, double flowers. “Momo Botan” is also a hardy variety, growing from zones 4-11.
There is even a “micro lotus”. Unfortunately it does not seem to be widely available at this time, so if you can find one online you can consider yourself pretty lucky.
In 2009 an extremely rare pigmy Rwandan water lily was stolen from the famous Kew Gardens near London.
The extremely valuable specimen grows in mud rather than water. A Scotland Yard spokesperson said that the thieves stole the irreplaceable tiny water lily in an area not covered by security cameras.
Sources For Dwarf Water Lilies And Lotus Plants
You can sometimes find live plants if you have a water garden nursery near you, otherwise, both seeds and live plants and tubers are available from a variety of online retailers.
If you receive a lotus tuber (root) or a bare-root water lily from an online retailer, be sure to plant it as soon as you can on the day it arrives through the mail. Bare-root plants and tubers are typically how they are shipped. A few popular online retailers are Lily Blooms, Pond Megastore, and Amazon.
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