Scientific Name
Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc.
Common Name(s)
Blue Lotus, Blue Egyptian Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Blue Egyptian Water Lily, Sacred Blue Lily, Frog's Pulpit
Synonym(s)
Nymphaea caerulea, Nymphaea mildbraedii, Nymphaea nelsonii, Nymphaea spectabilis, Nymphaea vernayi
Scientific Classification
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Genus: Nymphaea
Flower
Color: Blue
Bloom Time: Spring until the end of summer
Description
Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea is a clump-forming perennial with thick, spongy, black, tuberous rhizomes anchored in the pond mud by spreading roots. It does not have true stems. Instead, the leaves are on long petioles that arise directly from the rhizome. The leaves are large and flat, rounded or oval, up to 16 inches (40 cm) in diameter, with notched margins, and cleft almost to the center where the petiole is attached. One plant can spread over an area of about 3.3 feet (1 m). The large elegant blue flowers are held well above the water at the tip of a sturdy green stalk and appear almost continuously from spring until the end of summer. They are star-like, with four sepals, green on the outside, white to blue on the inside, and many blue petals. In the center of the flower are numerous blue-tipped, bright golden yellow stamens.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Like any other perennial, each different Water Lily may have specific needs regarding its sunlight, soil, fertilization, water depth, and pruning requirements. When shopping for Water Lilies, be sure to check the requirements of that specific plant before you decide that you must have it! Generally, Water Lilies require a minimum of four to five hours of full sun each day to produce the most blooms. They should be planted in a large, wide pot, using a slightly acidic mixture of clay and loam with a pH of 6.1-7.0. Commercial potting mixes often contain float amendments, so if you are using a commercial mix, be sure that it is specifically for aquatic plants! Adding a few goldfish to your pond will take care of most insect pests that attack aquatic plants as well as devour the mosquito larvae.
See more at: How to Grow and Care for Water Lilies.
Origin
The original habitat of this variety may have been along the Nile and other parts of east Africa.
Links
- Back to genus Nymphaea
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
Photo Gallery
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