Monet, Monet – It’s Tropical Waterlily Season

I thought that I might share some of the photos that I took last week of the tropical waterlilies that we saw planted in the pools at Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, PA. Tropical waterlilies are easily hybridized, and many of the varieties that we saw were bred at the gardens, or are available at online water garden retailers. Easy enough to grow, you must meet some basic requirements for these giants, mainly, a large, warm pond of water, which most of us, do not have. There are plenty of dwarf and small growing varieties worth seeking out, as well as hardy forms, but the finest horticultural specimens are these, the night and day blooming forms of tropical waterlilies, or Nymphaea species.

NIGHT BLOOMING WATERLILIES CAN COME IN AMAZING TROPICAL COLORS, SUCH AS THIS DEEP VIOLET HYBRID THAT NOT ONLY HAS PURPLE FLOWERS, BUT SPECKLED FOLIAGE.

THE GIANT WATER PLATTER WAS SUCCESSFULLY HYBRIDIZED AT LONGWOOD GARDENS FROM TWO SOUTH AMERICAN PARENT SPECIES. THESE PLANTS ARE RAISED FROM SEED EVERY YEAR. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THESE 6 FOOT LEAVES WHERE STARTED FROM SEED SOWN IN FEBRUARY.

 The waterlily display gardens at Longwood were built in 1957, and they feature aquatic plants from all over the world. There are over 100 varieties and species of day and night blooming varieties of waterlilies, lotuses, giant water platters and other plants like bog plants.