General Culture:
Easily grown in wet soil in still water in full sun to part shade. Full sun may be best, but plants will usually flower with as little as three hours of sun per day. Plant rhizomes horizontally in spring with bud end up preferably in containers which may be anchored in a tub garden or at the muddy bottom of a small pond or water garden. Plants are more easily moved when planted in container. Although rhizomes will overwinter without difficulty in USDA Zone 4 as long as the water does not freeze to the bottom, rhizome containers may best be lifted and overwintered in a cool root cellar or garage where winter temperatures do not dip below freezing but preferably do remain in the 40-45 degree F range.
Noteworthy Characteristics:
'Pygmaea Helvola' is a miniature yellow waterlily which typically spreads only 1-2'. Rounded, speckled, greenish leaves (to 4" across) float on the water surface. Dainty, cup-shaped, semi-double flowers (only 1-2" diameter) feature upward-curving yellow petals and a central mass of darker yellow stamens. Flowers bloom continuously from summer into fall. Each flower appears on or just above the water surface, opening in the morning and closing at night, and blooms for about 5 days.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf mining midges and aphids can be troublesome in some areas.
Uses:
Miniature water lily is perhaps best grown in tub gardens and tabletop containers. Also may be used in small ponds or small water gardens.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2010
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