Water lily, nymphea or water lily. Useful properties and uses of white water lily Pink water lily

12.10.2023

Water lily is a genus of herbaceous aquatic plants from the water lily family. Their natural habitat is standing or slowly flowing fresh water in subtropical and temperate climates. The plant is found in the Far East, the Urals, Central Asia, Russia, Belarus and neighboring countries. In addition to the usual name, it is called “water lily”, “child of the sun” or “nymphea”. The water lily is shrouded in various legends. According to one of them, the white nymph turned into a water flower because of her unrequited love for Hercules. According to other beliefs, every flower has an elf friend. You should definitely decorate your own small pond with this flower, because in addition to aesthetic pleasure, the owner receives a lot of health and household benefits.

Appearance of the plant

Water lily is an aquatic perennial with a long horizontal rhizome. It clings to the silt and grows deeper with shorter vertical shoots. The thickness of the cord-like horizontal roots is about 5 cm. Large petiolate leaves grow from the buds at the nodes of the stem. Some of them may be located in the water column, but most are located on the surface. The heart-shaped, almost rounded leaf plate is distinguished by its high density. Its size is 20-30 cm in diameter. The edges of the leaves are whole, and the surface can be one-color or two-color: green, brown, pinkish, light green.

In May-June the first flowers begin to appear. The flowering period can last until frost, although an individual flower lives only 3-4 days. In the evening, the petals close, the peduncle shortens and pulls the flower under water. In the morning the reverse process occurs. Usually the corolla consists of 4 sepals, which are similar to petals, but are more saturated in color. Behind them, in several rows, are large oval petals with a pointed edge. The color of the petals can be white, cream, pink or red. The latter develop into smaller flattened stamens. A pistil is visible at the very core. The diameter of a water lily flower is 6-15 cm. The flowers exude a pleasant aroma of varying intensity.

After pollination, the peduncle contracts and curls, carrying the ripening fruit underwater in the form of an oblong seed pod. After final ripening, the walls open, releasing small seeds covered with thick mucus. At first they are on the surface, and when the mucus is completely washed away, they sink to the bottom and germinate.

Due to the deterioration of the ecological situation, siltation and shallowing of water bodies, the number of water lilies has greatly decreased. The population decline was also influenced by the extermination of plants for medicinal purposes. Some species, for example, white water lily, are already included in the Red Book.

Types of water lilies

According to the latest data, the Water Lily genus includes more than 40 plant species.

Water lily snow-white (pure white). The inhabitant of Central Russian ponds is distinguished by a particularly powerful root system with tuberous growths on the rhizome. Fleshy petioles carry leaves and flowers to the surface of the water. Solid bright green leaves on the surface of the water are 20-25 cm wide. They have a rounded shape with a dissection at the point where the petiole is attached. The first buds open at the end of May or beginning of June, they replace each other until late autumn. The maximum number of flowers is observed in the second half of summer. Snow-white fragrant flowers with a diameter of 10-15 cm consist of several rows of pointed ovoid petals and a lush core with yellow stamens.

Plants live in Eurasia and North Africa. Quite large leaves reach a width of 30 cm, but have a disproportionate structure of the plate. At the beginning of summer, creamy-white flowers with a diameter of about 15 cm bloom. Larger petals are located in the outer circle, and towards the center they gradually become smaller and turn into several rows of stamens.

The inhabitant of northern Siberia has very modest dimensions. The diameter of its pinkish-white flowers does not exceed 5 cm.

A group of decorative water lilies bred specifically for use in the garden. The reason for this is the poor survival rate of wild plants in cultivation. The most popular varieties:

Alba is a plant 40-100 cm high with large snow-white flowers;
Rosea - large corollas with a pink cup and pale pink petals bloom on shoots 0.2-1 m long;
Gold Medal – golden flowers with many narrow petals located on a shoot up to 1 m long;
James Brydon – small terry cherry corollas consist of wide and round petals, they grow on a stem up to 1 m long;
Blue Beauty - Large green leaves surround flowers with blue petals and a golden center.

The colors of the water lily species are usually dominated by shades of white or pink, but some claim to have seen a yellow water lily. Such a plant does exist, but belongs to a different genus - Capsule. The genera are very similar in leaf structure and habitat. Both belong to the same family. At the same time, the flowers have a more modest size and do not exceed 4-6 cm in diameter. The petals themselves are wider and rounder.

Features of reproduction

Propagating water lilies is very difficult. Even for an experienced gardener, not every attempt will be crowned with success. Seed propagation is usually only possible in the natural environment in the south of the country.

Vegetative methods show the best results. To do this, you need to remove the rhizome and cut it into pieces so that each section has at least one bud. The cut areas should be sprinkled with charcoal. All manipulations must be carried out quickly enough, because the plant does not tolerate drying out the roots. It is placed in a container with water and sludge. If there are several leaves on a piece, some of them should be removed so as not to weaken the plant.

Secrets of care

The use of decorative water lilies is an excellent solution for small ponds. They grow best in a well-lit, open place, but can also grow in slight shade. In full shade the plant will not die, but you may not see flowers. To prevent the entire surface of the water from becoming covered with vegetation, 1-4 m² of reservoir must be allocated for each specimen. Water lilies grow best in still, calm water or with little current. Constant seething is contraindicated for them, so plants near the fountain will die.

Planting is carried out in May-June. Although you can place the root directly on the bottom of the reservoir, it is more convenient to plant the nymph in a bucket or large plastic container. For the winter, the plant can be removed so that it does not freeze in a shallow, completely frozen pond. The soil mixture is made up of the following components:

peat;
garden soil;
river sand;
compost.

The growing point should remain on the surface when planting. To prevent the soil from floating up and the seedlings from being washed away, the surface is weighted with pebbles. The depth of immersion depends on the height of the particular variety. It can be only 20 cm or reach 1 m. First, the container with the plant is placed in a shallow part so that leaves appear faster. As they grow, the water lily is immersed deeper and deeper. Such movements are possible only during the growing season. With the appearance of buds, fluctuations in water level are contraindicated.

Nymphea needs feeding. Bone meal can serve as a fertilizer for it. It is mixed with clay and formed into balls. They are immersed in the soil near the roots.

When planting, it is necessary to take into account the degree of winter hardiness of the varieties. Some of them are preserved even in severe frosts. Most often these are tall varieties in a spacious reservoir. Otherwise, the container with the water lily is removed and transferred to a fairly cold and dark room, and in early spring after the ice melts, it is returned to the pond. Rare night frosts will not harm the plant.

Water lilies are not afraid of diseases; they have a very strong immune system. In extreme heat, aphids can settle on a plant in a body of water that is too shallow. The harm it does to the entire water lily is small, but the flowers may fall off without opening. The succulent leaves also attract snails. The use of insecticides can lead to poisoning of the entire reservoir, so it is better to use mechanical methods to remove pests. The snails are collected, and the aphids are washed off with a stream of water.

Medicinal properties

All parts of the plant contain a large amount of active substances, such as starch, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, fatty oils, proteins, tannins, alkaloids, and glycosides. The crushed raw materials are brewed and taken orally to combat headaches, amenorrhea, insomnia, hepatitis, bladder spasms, diarrhea, and tumors. External use of the decoction helps get rid of inflammation on the skin.

Many active substances in excess do more harm to the body than they benefit. They should not be abused; it is best to take the drugs under the supervision of a doctor. Also contraindications are allergies and a tendency to hypotension.

The water lily is a flower of fabulous beauty, about which there are many legends and myths. In ancient times, it was believed that the water lily protected people from misfortunes and gave strength to overcome enemies. Nowadays, this plant is widely used to decorate artificial reservoirs. It will decorate even a small lake. To obtain the desired result, it is extremely important to properly care for the flower.

White water lily: description

About 50 species of water lilies are now known. Answering the question of where water lilies grow, it should be noted that they have a wide distribution area. So, this plant can be found in reservoirs of Russia, Canada, and Scandinavia. Some species can overwinter in completely frozen bodies of water.

The water lily is an aquatic plant that has underwater leaves that are different from those that float on the surface. It should be noted that in cold-resistant species the leaf blades are located directly on the water, while in tropical varieties they rise above the water surface. They can have a heart-shaped, elliptical or round shape.

The size of a lily directly depends on the variety. The color of the flowers can vary from green to red-burgundy. Due to its wide range of colors, this plant is used to decorate artificial reservoirs.

The length of the elastic petioles depends on the depth of the reservoir; they allow the leaves to move across the reservoir under the influence of current or wind. If the water level drops - the plant finds itself practically on dry land - the petioles become thick and short, and the leaves begin to curl upward along the edges. The water lily floats on the surface of the water due to the fact that all vegetative parts of the plant are penetrated by air channels.

In the northern regions, the plant begins to bloom in June, and in the southern regions - in May. The flowering period of one flower is 4 days. Their main feature is that they close in the evening and submerge in water, and in cloudy weather, they can remain under water all the time.

The water lily flower has a wide range of colors. Most water lilies are white, but in the tropics you can find pink, cream and even blue flowers.

The water lily received its name not just for its beauty, but for its strong aroma, which actively attracts insects. It is the beetles that pollinate this plant. They climb into the middle of the water lily, eat pollen, thereby spreading it to other plants.

What types of water lilies are there?

Pure white or snow-white water lily

Often this flower can be found in Russian reservoirs. The period of the beginning of flowering occurs in May-June, the peak of flowering is observed from July to August. Each flower of this lily lasts about 4 days. After flowering, the peduncle begins to curl and the fruit gradually begins to submerge under water.

Dwarf water lily

This white flower is of hybrid origin. This plant has dark oval leaves up to 2.5 cm in diameter. The dwarf water lily grows in reservoirs up to 30 cm deep.

This type of flower can be found in northern Russia and even in Siberia. It has miniature dimensions - up to 5 cm in diameter.

Fragrant water lily

Found in water bodies of North America. The flowers are white and have a diameter of 15 cm. The flower grows at a depth of 40 to 80 cm. There are also white and yellow, pink and cream flowers.

Hybrid view

Hybrid plants are divided into several types:

frost-resistant;
tropical.

The frost-resistant type is common in reservoirs of Siberia and in the northern European regions of Russia.

The tropical type is often grown in greenhouses or winter gardens, where the water temperature does not fall below 25 °C.

What beneficial properties do white lilies have?

This plant can bring not only aesthetic pleasure, but also real benefits. An interesting fact is that the water lily flower is used not only in pharmacology or in home recipes; its scope of application is much wider.

How is this plant used?

Water lily can be used as follows:

in the Caucasus, the root of the plant is eaten, boiled or fried;
in Scandinavian countries, flour is made from the rhizome of this flower;
water lily seeds can be used to prepare a drink that tastes very similar to coffee and also has an invigorating effect;
The dried roots and leaves of this plant are used in many homeopathic preparations.

Please note that white water lilies are listed in the Red Book. The chemical composition of the plant is striking in its diversity. Includes:

The extract of this plant is widely used in the manufacture of pharmacological drugs that are intended to treat the following diseases:

migraine;
neurosis;
cystitis;
hepatitis;
neuralgia.

Peculiarities of water lily propagation

The plant can reproduce in several ways: vegetatively and by seeds.

If you want to have not a decorative flower, but a real water lily, then you should pay attention to the following recommendations:

It is prohibited to cut off the root of a wild plant, as this is a violation of the law on the protection of white water lilies as a rare species;
you should wait until autumn, when the seed pods float to the surface - collect them from the water surface;
plant the box with seeds in viscous and moist soil;
the soil for planting should be in a large pot and resemble slurry;
the pot with the planted box should be lowered into an artificial pond.

If planting procedures are carried out in the autumn, then there is no need to open the box; the seeds should overwinter in it. In spring, the seed box will open on its own.

Decorative hybrids of this plant can be purchased at almost any florist salon that specializes in landscaping ponds. Such hybrid flowers are planted in June.

Plant protection

The white water lily is very rare in nature. Please note that Since 1993, the water lily has been listed in the Red Book of Russia.

There are special botanical reserves and mini-sanctuaries where water lilies are artificially grown. Such reserves are located on the territory of the Leningrad and Tver regions. An interesting fact is that the Patriarch’s Ponds are decorated with water lilies from the Tver Nature Reserve.

The largest flower is considered to be the water lily. This flower belongs to a separate genus of the giant water lily family. The size of the leaves can reach up to 3 m. This plant is found in the shallow waters of the Amazon. Victoria Amazoniana blooms for only a few days, and the color of the petals is constantly changing. At first they are white, then pink, at the end of flowering they can be red or crimson. This variety of water lilies is considered rare and is cultivated in greenhouses.

As a result, it should be noted that the hybrid water lily is an excellent solution for decorating artificial reservoirs. For such flowers they don’t require much care and are very easy to plant. But wild water lilies are an endangered botanical species, and their destruction is punishable by law. You can only buy wild water lilies in a specialized reserve. There are several such reserves in Russia.

The water lily belongs to the Water Lily family, which includes more than 50 species of perennials with powerful, fleshy rhizomes. A water lily is often mistakenly called a water lily.

This is an amazing flower. The white water lily (the Red Book of Russia includes it as a rare plant) among the Slavs was an obligatory component of various love spells. It was believed that this plant, taken on the road with you, would protect a person from any evil. Carl Linnaeus, a famous biologist who collected legends about this plant, was surprised by the fate of the nymph, rejected by Hercules, and turned into a water lily by the gods. Because of this, he decided to give the flower a Latin name in her honor - white nymphea.

Claude Monet, a French painter, painted “White Water Lilies” in oil on canvas in 1899. He reflected how beautiful the nature that surrounds us is.

White water lily (water lily) is a natural weather forecaster. There are a huge number of signs of plant behavior depending on the weather.

It has been observed over the years that if the flowers open early in the morning, the weather will be clear all day, while if it appears only at 9 am, it will rain. If it doesn’t appear at all, there will soon be a heavy and prolonged downpour.

White water lily: description

It is a stemless perennial herbaceous and aquatic plant with large, floating leaves. It belongs to the water lilies. It has a creeping rhizome, adjacent to it are heart-shaped leaves, as well as long stalks with white single flowers. Flowers with a large number of white petals, emit a light aroma, float on the water. Their calyx is four-leafed and green. Many stamens, radiate multipartite stigma. The fruits are spherical, green, and always ripen under water. Flowering occurs in June-July.

Flower names

The medicinal plant white water lily is nicknamed: white water lily, overpowering, water flower, Aquarius, adalen, white hens, water companion, water crown, balabolka, great lapushnik...

Places of growth

It grows in the European part of our country, in the southern part of Siberia, in the Urals, Belarus, Ukraine, Eastern Transcaucasia, and the North Caucasus. The white water lily's habitat is standing and slowly flowing water (lakes, ponds, river bays).

Recently, the conditions for the plant to live in nature have been deteriorating, therefore, these days it has been included in the Red Book.

Reproduction

Reproduction occurs by segments of rhizomes that have dormant buds. The cut should be sprinkled with ash or crushed charcoal. Leaves and roots do not tolerate drying, therefore, there is no need to prolong the division process. The plant is placed in a small container with clean water for transportation.

Composition of white water lily

The white water lily (its description is given in this article) contains tannins, starch, and the alkaloid nymphalin in its roots; in the petals - flavonoids, cardenomide nymphalins; in the leaves - tannins, oxalic acid, flavonoids; the seeds contain tannins, starch and fatty oil.

The rhizomes, leaves and flowers of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. Roots are stored in early autumn, leaves and flowers - in summer.

Medicinal properties

The white water lily, or rather its flowers, have a calming, antipyretic, analgesic, and hypnotic effect.

Harvesting and collection

The period for collecting water lilies is selected depending on the required part of it.

If these are roots, then collection should be carried out in early autumn, when a huge amount of nutrients has already accumulated in them. They are extracted from the bottom using hooks, then cleaned of leaf cuttings and small roots. Then they are washed, cut into equal-sized pieces and dried in a ventilated room or outside in the shade.

If these are buds or flowers of the white water lily plant, then you need to accurately select the time of collection. This should happen during flowering. In addition, they need to be collected before 5 pm, and if just buds, then before 7 am or immediately after 5 pm, since the flowers are submerged under water after this time. Mostly flowers are taken fresh, but if necessary, they are dried in a ventilated, shady place.

The leaves of the plant can be collected in the fall before the onset of cold weather around the clock. The leaves are dried under the same conditions as all other parts - in a ventilated, shady room.

The fruits and seeds of the water lily are collected during its flowering (it must be borne in mind that one flower blooms for only 4 days): for example, the seeds are taken directly from the surface of the water, where they float in “capsules”, while the fruits are taken at a shallow depth under water. Seeds and fruits need to be dried after collection.

Although not only these rules are recommended to be followed by magicians and healers. When various parts of the water lily are torn off, you should always appease the water spirit, since this plant is under its protection: this can be done by throwing a piece of bread or a few coins into the water.

When collecting the plant, you need to remember that the water lily is listed in the Red Books in many countries, therefore, it can only be collected in limited quantities.

Application

The white water lily plant is actively used in folk medicine. An infusion of flowers is used to quench thirst, as a soothing and antipyretic effective remedy. An aqueous infusion of these flowers is used for insomnia as a sleeping pill and sedative.

Medicinal preparations from the rhizomes and roots of the plant help reduce skin inflammation, while when crushed they are used as mustard plasters.

If you add the leaves of the white water lily to the roots of the plant, this decoction will help with constipation and jaundice. The roots, boiled in wort, are consumed by nursing women, thereby increasing the amount of milk.

An alcoholic tincture made from the leaves is drunk for urolithiasis. In case of hair loss, it is recommended to wash your hair with a decoction of the roots of the plant.

The infusion, which is prepared from the flowers of this medicinal plant, is used for baths and washes, in addition to relieving pain as an external remedy.

Dry rhizomes can be ground into flour and baked into bread.

Relieving pain with flowers

You will need a crushed flower (white water lily). Pour boiling water over it, then wrap it in gauze, and then apply it to the sore area.

Skin cleaning

You will need fresh white water lily petals. They need to be filled with water and left to boil for 15 minutes, then left to steep for 4 hours. With a ready-to-use product to wash your face, acne will disappear from your skin very soon.

Infusion of petals

A small amount of fresh petals of the white water lily should be poured into a glass of boiling water, held for an hour, filtered, and used internally to quench thirst in small sips in the presence of insomnia and fever. The white water lily flower also in this form is suitable for people suffering from ailments of the nervous system.

Heart weakness

Mix a couple of tablespoons of white water lily petals and red hawthorn flowers, pour a glass of boiling water, leave for an hour, then consume every 2 hours.

Contraindications

The use of such medicinal products, which are obtained from various parts of the water lily, should be under the supervision of a specialist. This is explained simply - the white water lily itself is very poisonous.

The Red Book of Russia, by the way, included the flower in the list of rare plants, so its extraction is now prohibited.

From the family of water lilies or nymphaeaceae, they are common in water bodies of the temperate and tropical zones of both hemispheres. Some beautifully flowering species are used in culture.

Family: water lilies.

Homeland: grow all over the world.

Rhizome: powerful, with numerous long roots.

Stem: transformed into a rhizome or tuber.

Leaves: petiolate, of various shapes and sizes depending on the species.

Fetus: multileaf, ripening under water.

Reproductive capacity: propagates vegetatively by rhizomes, less often by seeds.

Illumination: photophilous.

Watering: no (aquatic plant).

Content temperature: There are winter-hardy and heat-loving species.

Flowering duration: from late spring until frost.

General description of the water lily flower

The genus includes about 50 species that grow in flowing bodies of water with slow flowing water. Their distribution area is extremely wide, covering regions from the tropics of the equator to the forest-tundra belt of Scandinavia, Russia, and Canada; some representatives can winter even in completely frozen water bodies.

Water lily flower in the photo

As can be seen in the photo, water lilies are aquatic plants whose stems have turned into powerful rhizomes, either horizontally immersed in the bottom soil, or having the appearance of a tuber. Numerous cord-like anchor roots extend down from the tubers or nodes of rhizomes, holding the nymph in the ground, and petiolate leaves and peduncles grow upward.

The underwater part of the water lily in the photo

Underwater leaves are very different in shape and structure from those floating on the surface; they are broadly lanceolate, membranous, rolled into a cap, under which flower buds and developing above-water leaves are hidden. The latter appear in the summer, emerging from the depths of the reservoir in the form of tubes on long petioles, only opening completely at the top. The leaf plates of winter-hardy water lilies are located directly on the water, while those of tropical water lilies are raised above its surface. Their shape is usually heart-shaped, round or elliptical, with a pronounced basal notch; the surface is dense, leathery, and has a waxy coating, which makes it not wetted by water. The sizes vary depending on the species and variety, the color can be green, reddish-burgundy or even variegated, which greatly contributes to the popularity of representatives of the genus as ornamental plants.

Elastic petioles allow the leaves to move freely under the influence of currents or wind. Their length depends on the depth of the reservoir and ensures the most rational placement of sheet plates on its surface. When the water level decreases, when the plant finds itself practically on dry land, the petioles become thick and short, no more than 20 cm long, and the leaves bend upward along the edge.

All vegetative parts are penetrated by air channels, which not only provide them with breathing, but also allow the water lily to stay on the surface. In addition, in the cavity of the canals there are clusters of stony cells (sclereids) of a branched-stellate shape, which, according to one version, protect plants from being eaten by snails; according to another, they serve to strengthen tissues, protecting them from mechanical damage.

Flowering of water lilies (nymphs) in the northern regions usually begins in June, in the south - in May. The lifespan of one flower is about 4 days. They have an interesting feature of closing in the evening or morning hours, plunging into water, and in cloudy weather they may not appear on the surface at all.

Water lily flower in the photo

The water lily flower is single, bisexual, of regular symmetrical shape, with a long flexible peduncle and a double perianth, in which there are 4-5 large green sepals and many smaller imbricated petals. Its diameter varies depending on the species, in the largest specimens it reaches 30 cm, in the miniature ones it does not exceed 3 cm. The coloring is also very diverse. Most water lilies growing in the middle zone are white, but in the tropics there are species with pink, yellow, cream, purple, blue and light blue petals. In the center of the flower cup there are several pistils and numerous large yellow or orange stamens, gradually turning into petals.

The popular name for the water lily is water lily, given to it not only for the shape and beauty of the flower, but also for its intense aroma that attracts numerous insects. Basically, the pollination function is performed by beetles, climbing into the flower bed, they eat pollen, leaving some of it on their legs and then transferring it to another plant. Beetles often spend the night inside a bowl, which closes in the evening and goes under water, and rises to the surface again in the morning.

Water lily propagation

After pollination, the flower sinks to the bottom, where a berry-shaped multi-seeded leaflet fruit ripens. It contains up to 1.5 thousand small black seeds, which, after the destruction of the berry, float to the surface, since they are equipped with a mucous membrane and special spongy floater appendages. They float on the water for some time, and during this time they are carried away by the current, or, since they resemble caviar in appearance, they are eaten by birds and fish. The remaining ones then sink to the bottom of the reservoir and germinate there.

Note that the seed method of reproduction is not the main one for water lilies; most of them reproduce through rhizomes, and some, such as the African small-flowered water lily (N.micrantha), are even considered viviparous; young plants grow from a bulb formed at the point of leaf attachment to the petiole.

All water lilies are amphibious plants and can grow both in water and on land, even when the reservoir dries out significantly.

Types: white, yellow, red, gold and Victoria water lily

Most water lilies are tropical and subtropical crops and can only exist where the water temperature in the reservoir is not lower than 25 °C.

White water lily

There are fewer winter-hardy species; for example, only three grow in Russia: white, pure white and small water lilies.

Despite the heat-loving nature of nymphs, the beauty of these spectacular plants led to interest in them from flower growers around the world, and in the middle of the 19th century, work began on breeding varieties adapted to exist in open waters of the temperate zone. Over the course of 30 years, more than 50 hybrids of water lilies were created; water lilies appeared in the decorative ponds of Versailles and the greenhouses of the Queen of England. The main credit for this belongs to the French botanist Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac, who developed the first hybrid in 1877, and subsequently created a number of wonderful ornamental varieties, which are still widely grown throughout the world. After his death in 1911, work on the hybridization of nymphs practically ceased, and only recently new cultivars of American selection began to appear on the market.

Rhizome species and varieties of water lilies

In order to take into account the specific requirements of plants during their decorative cultivation, all types of water lilies are usually divided into groups in accordance with the structure of the root system. According to this classification, rhizomatous, tuberous, conditionally stolon and conditionally rhizomatous water lilies are distinguished.

Rhizomatous species that produce shoots along the entire length of a powerfully developed rhizome include water lilies:

White (N. alba), naturally growing in open waters of Europe. Asia and North Africa, with large, up to 30 cm, dark green leaves and milky white, up to 15 cm in diameter, slightly fragrant flowers. Natural (white) and garden forms are bred in culture: red N. Alba-rubra and pale pink N. Alba-rosea.

Snow white or pure white (N. candida), common in central Russia, very similar to the previous species, slightly different in the shape of the leaves and slightly smaller (up to 12 cm) size of the flowers, which have a more intense aroma.

Small or tetrahedral (N. tetragona), found in northern reservoirs of the middle zone and in Siberia. Smaller, with leaves up to 8 cm in size and flowers up to 5 cm in diameter.

Two North American water lilies belong to the same group:

tuberous (N. tuberosa), large, with white flowers and horizontal rhizomes on which tuberous growths form. In cultivation it is grown in reservoirs with a depth of at least 1 m; there is a pink form with red stamens N. Tuberose Rosea and a large snow-white N. Tuberose Richardsonii, both are suitable only for a large reservoir or lake.

Fragrant (N. odorata), with very fragrant white flowers up to 15 cm in diameter and bright green leaves. There are dwarf varieties: yellow Sulphurea, white Minor, and medium-sized varieties: pink Rosea, pure white Alba.

Rhizomatous species are cold-resistant and can overwinter in open waters. Based on them, numerous hybrids have been created, suitable for temperate climates, which are usually divided by size: small and large.

Popular among small ones:

White (Pygmaea alba), a profusely flowering dwarf water lily with flowers up to 2.5 cm in diameter;

Orange (Sioux) with pointed petals, and the more compact Aurora, both have flowers that start out yellow, then become orange-pink, and finally red;

Yellow water lilies (Sunrise), one of the best varieties, with flowers up to 20 cm in diameter, and the Australian Moorei with less abundant flowering;

Red water lily (Pygmaea rubra).

Pale pink (Marliacea Rosea) with fragrant bright flowers.

Large water lilies differ in the size of flowers (at least 15 cm) and leaves, which can occupy an area of up to 2 m2. This:

White (Gladstoniana), a flower with a diameter of up to 30 cm, for a lake or large pond;

Yellow (Marliacea Chromatella), or “Golden Bowl” water lily, as it is called in England, is a reliable and profusely flowering variety with bright large (up to 18 cm) flowers,

Red (Escarboucle), the most beautiful of the red water lilies, up to 30 cm in diameter, reliably blooming.

Tuberous ornamental species and hybrids of water lilies

Species belonging to the groups of tuberous, conditionally rhizomatous and conditionally stolon water lilies do not overwinter in temperate latitudes; during the cold period they must be removed from the ground.

Tuberous varieties form tubers at the points at which young plants form.

These are numerous heat-loving species of various colors:

Blue water lily (N. Caerulea)

Red water lily (N. rubra)

Cape water lily (N. capensis) with lilac-blue flowers

Tiger water lily or Egyptian lotus (N. lotus)

White water lily with spotted leaves.

A number of hybrids have been created on their basis:

White water lily (Tigroides)

Pink water lily (James Gurney)

Lilac water lily (Midnight)

A representative of the conditionally rhizomatous group is small-flowered water lily (N. micrantha), which, like all plants from the group, reproduces in nature only by seeds.

There are several heat-loving hybrids blue (Daubeniana Hort) And purple (King of the Blues) colors that reproduce vegetatively.

The last, conditionally stolon group, includes tropical plants, the mother rhizomes of which form descending shoots. New tubers form at their ends; in the spring they produce ascending stolons, from which new rhizomes are formed, and then leaves and buds.

Representative - Mexican water lily (N. Mexicana), its heat-loving hybrid Sulphurea is grown in greenhouses or heated ponds.

In conclusion, we note that the largest flowering plant in the world is the water lily. Victoria amazonica or Victoria regia(Victoria amazonica or Victoria regia), a separate genus of the water lily family, a giant aquatic flower whose leaves reach 3 m in size, is found in the shallow waters of the Amazon, where the depth does not exceed 2 m. Its large water lilies, up to 35 cm in diameter, bloom once a year, emerging to the surface only at night. Flowering lasts two days, while the color of the petals constantly changes, they become white, then pink, and finally red or even crimson-violet. This is one of the rarest plants on the planet and is currently widely cultivated in greenhouses.

The beautiful white lilies that appear on the surface of the pond have inspired artists and poets throughout the centuries. The subtle beauty of water lilies surprises and amazes the imagination. It's hard to believe that these flowers can be grown in...

Water lily, or Nymphaea (Nymphaea) is a genus of perennial aquatic plants of the water lily family (Nymphaeaceae). Includes about 50 species. White water lilies are called water lilies. Nymphs are ubiquitous and can be found in wildlife in both hemispheres. Nymphs live in reservoirs of the temperate zone, in cold lakes of Scandinavia and Siberia, and they are also found in the tropics.

Some beautifully flowering types of water lilies are used in culture.

The rhizome of nymphea is powerful, with numerous long roots. In adult water lilies, tubers form in the roots. The rhizome is located horizontally in the silt at the bottom of the reservoir, thin roots go into the bottom soil, securely holding the plant.

Nymphea leaves on long petioles rise vertically. Some of them remain underwater, but there are also surface ones. Leaves appear above water in summer and are round, elliptical or rounded-heart-shaped in shape. The surface is dense, leathery, and not wetted by water. The color is green, reddish-green, brown-green or even variegated. The leaf blades of temperate water lilies lie on the surface of the water, while the leaves of heat-loving tropical nymphs rise above the water. The size of the leaves depends on the type of plant.

Nymphaea "Escarboucle"

Nymphaea "Paul Hariot"

Water lily flowers on long stalks form under water. When the time for flowering comes, they appear on the surface, striking with their perfect beauty. The length of peduncles, as well as leaf petioles, depends on the depth of the reservoir. They are elastic and flexible, leaves and flowers can move along the surface under the influence of current and wind. Another interesting feature is that the flowers can close in the morning or evening and submerge in water. On some days, when it rains, for example, they do not appear on the surface at all.

Nymphaea "Bama Bound"

Nymphaea "White Sultan"

The nymphea flower is single, the diameter depends on the species, from 3 to 30 cm. The petals form a cup, in the center of which there are several pistils and numerous large yellow or orange stamens. The coloring is very varied. In the wild in temperate climates, most water lilies are white or pinkish-lilac in color. In the warm waters of the tropics there are species with cream, pink, yellow, lilac, blue and violet petals. Decorative garden nymphs can delight you with a very rich palette of colors.

Nymphaea Nymphaea "Midnight"

Nymphaea "Pink Sensation"

In northern reservoirs, water lilies bloom in June, in the south - at the end of spring. The lifespan of one flower is about 4 days. They are pollinated by insects, the seeds ripen under water, after ripening they float and are carried by the current. After some time, they settle to the bottom and germinate there.

Using nymphs in landscape design

Decorative ponds have long ceased to be exotic; it is not difficult to arrange a small artificial pond in the garden of your home or dacha. Among aquatic plants, the water lily is undoubtedly in first place. This is not only a beautiful plant, but also a very useful one for ponds. Nymphea absorb a lot of organic matter, helping to reduce algae growth in ponds and lakes. It purifies the water, preventing it from blooming.

For planting in a pond, varieties are selected taking into account the depth of the reservoir:

dwarf and small – flower diameter 5–15 cm, planting depth from 10–15 to 50 cm;
medium – flower diameter 15–18 cm, water depth – 30–60 cm;
large - flowers with a diameter of 18–25 cm, planting depth 50–100 cm.

To highlight the beauty of water lilies, experts recommend leaving at least half of the water surface free. You should not plant many nymphs in one pond at once. They grow quickly, become smaller, and flowering becomes more and more rare. The entire surface of the pond will be covered with leaves, which is not particularly beautiful.

It is better not to mix water lilies of different colors in one group. If nymphs of different sizes and shades are planted in the pond, then be sure to separate them with a section of water surface.

Lighting. Nympheas are light-loving plants; the pond should be illuminated by the sun for at least several hours a day.

Landing. The water lily can be planted in the bottom soil, and if the pond is small, then it is most convenient to place it in a regular flower pot, lattice basket or other container and lower it to the bottom of the reservoir. A small pond is cleaned more often; it is much easier to get a pot while changing the water. The soil in the container with the nymph rhizome must be sprinkled on top with a layer of pebbles or crushed stone so that the soil does not float up and pollute the water in the pond.

The soil. Water lilies love good nutritious soil, their active growth and regular lush flowering depend on this. It is desirable that the soil is sufficiently viscous. For example: garden soil and clay in proportion (3:1). It is useful to add humus.

Fertilizer. Typically, aquatic plants are not fertilized. Decomposed organic matter is enough for them. But there are also special fertilizers on sale for pond plants that slowly dissolve in water. They are recommended to be placed in clay balls and placed under plants when transplanting.

Trimming. In summer, only yellowed leaves and faded flowers are pruned. It is also advisable to cut
pedicels, and leaf petioles at the base of the bush so that they do not rot in water.

Reproduction. Garden nymphs are propagated by dividing the rhizomes. The best time for this is spring. It is better to remove the bushes from the water and divide them on a cloudy day so that the sun does not burn the plants. Perform all work with gloves.

The roots of nymphs are very long and fragile. They are easily damaged, but in general they take root well after transplantation. An old water lily may have a large tuber with several rosettes of leaves. They divide it with a knife so that all the sockets contain part of the tuber.

After transplantation, young nymphs are immersed in the pond to different depths. The depth of immersion should be such that the upper leaves reach the surface of the water. You can place a stone or an inverted empty pot under a container with a water lily, and as soon as it begins to grow and produce new leaves, it is gradually lowered to a greater depth.

Wintering. Wintering water lilies is not a simple matter. Common wild water lilies overwinter well in mud under ice. If a hybrid nymph, whose ancestors were heat-loving species, lives in a garden pond, then it may not survive the winter. In addition, a garden pond is often shallow and completely frozen. And even more often, it’s a plastic container from which all the water is drained for the winter.
Therefore, in the fall, gardeners are concerned with an important question: what is the best way to overwinter the rhizomes of nymphs growing in a small frozen pond?

If the depth of the pond is 60 cm or more, the water is not drained for the winter, then cold-resistant water lilies can overwinter in the pond. It is important that the pond is completely filled with water before frost. In severe winters, the water can freeze to the very bottom, but plants of winter-hardy native species can survive the winter in such conditions. Helpful advice: when the pond mirror is completely frozen, you can throw snow on it from the paths. Such a “coat” will protect the pond from complete freezing and fill it with water with the onset of spring.

Perhaps the easiest way to store nymphs is to overwinter the rhizomes in the basement. In the fall, containers with water lilies are removed from the pond, old leaves are removed, placed in thick plastic bags and transferred to the basement or cellar. The bags are not closed; there must be air access from above. They are needed for ease of movement and retention of moisture at the roots.

With the onset of spring, you can notice that plants begin to grow even in the basement. If it is still too cold outside, you can place the plants in a bucket of water and move them to a cool room (porch, barn) to slow down their development until favorable times arrive. To speed up growth and achieve early flowering in the spring, they are transferred to light and warmth.

There is also an interesting way of wintering. If you have absolutely no place to store your water lily, you can use the old method of preserving vegetables in a hole under the snow. A plastic bucket with rhizomes is lowered into a narrow deep hole (about 80cm) dug in the ground. It is better to take the water lily rhizome along with the silt, fill it with water, but there should be air above it. A ceiling is made over the pit from old boards and everything is covered with excavated earth. For ventilation, insert a bunch of dry stems or an old broom under the ceiling at an angle. Surprisingly, such wintering often turns out to be quite successful. This is better than keeping a nymph in a warm apartment in winter.

Decorate your ponds with beautiful water lilies!