Hardy waterlilies are the sturdy souls that can survive the winter!

One requirement is that they be protected from a hard freeze in winter. For the effort of an hour or so a week during the summer, waterlily gardeners are rewarded with many weeks of flowers and lush, green growth.

All hardy waterlilies are day blooming. Their flowers open in the morning, season, and cultivar, and then close mid to late afternoon. For those who work in the day and are only home in the evenings, they will only see blooms in the day.

Hardy waterlilies grow from underground swollen stems called rhizomes. Some leaf growth will always be present, even when the plant is completely dormant. As the rhizome grows, new leaves and flowers will sprout from the tip. Roots are often thick and fleshy. The larger roots hold the plant in place, and the thinner ones absorb nutrients from the soil and the water.

The leaf grows from the underwater rhizome and uses a long stem to reach and float on the water surface. A very few Hardy cultivars have foliage that stands up slightly out of the water. This is usually caused by the leaves becoming crowded on the surface rather than any inherent plant trait or characteristic. The leaves are glossy and leathery on top and of a green shade. Some leaves will have different shades or markings. Leaves of hardy waterlilies are roundish and smooth edged and may be 1- 12 inches wide, depending on the species on cultivar. As the leaf ages, it will turn yellow and is replaced by new growth that stretches farther away from the crown.

Flowers tend to stem straight upward from the crown of the plant. The blossoms will usually float on the water surface, although some may stand above the water surface. Hardy waterlilies flowers are generally classified as stelate, or star-shaped, rounded, peony- shaped, or some variation of these. The flowers usually only last a few days, then more will bloom. There are many names for different types of waterlilies and many colors.


Most hardy waterlilies need more than six hours of direct sunlight in order to grow and bloom consistently. Although some cultivars will still flower in part shade with less than three hours of sun every day. If you have a waterlily that is in complete shade it may not flower and may even die. Most hardy waterlilies usually prefer full sun, some will appreciate some afternoon shade.

Hardy waterlilies grow best in still water. They need to be planted away from fountains, waterfalls, or streams. Since waterlilies breathe through the top of the leaves, the splash can be fatal.

Regardless of the cultivar hardy waterlilies are able to adapt to variations in water depth and are capable of stretching themselves. Even if there is a rainstorm and your pond fills with more water they will take a few days and stretch themselves. So moving your waterlily from shallow water to a deeper part of your pond is no problem.

For optimum growth, hardy waterlilies should be planted in soil that has a neutral or slightly alkaline pH. The waterlily also will only tolerate very, very low levels of salt concentration in the pond.

Planting waterlilies are really quite easy to pot up. To plant a Hardy lily, fill the pot about two-thirds full of potting soil. Place the rhizome on the mound in the middle of the pot with a handful of soil. Place the rhizome on the mound in the middle of the pot. Spread out any roots so that they are on top of the roots and around the rhizome. Sprinkle the soil over the roots and around the rhizome, and then add more soil so that the rhizome under just less than 1 inch or so of soil, since more soil will make sprouting new leaves more difficult. Then water the pot thoroughly, and then add pea gravel around the rhizome, just enough to cover it.

Dividing a waterlily is essential for its health and vitality. They grow by adding onto
last years rhizome. As it gets older a waterlily can grow up and out of its pot, even if it does not escape. Which will displace soil and will leave no room for fertilizer. Dividing is a way to discard old roots and rhizomes that would otherwise decompose in the pot. A lily needs to be divided if it shows signs of overcrowding including foliage that is mounded and standing out of the water. Also if you are getting fewer blooms or blossoms that are hidden among the leaves. As a general rule, the best time to divide the Lily's is in early spring, just before it has actively started to grow.
To divide a waterlily, take the entire plant out of the pot and loosen it. Wash away soil with a strong jet from the garden hose. Find the main growing tip of the rhizome, identify new side-eyes and cut them away. With the new rhizomes pot them up.