Continued from Page 1
List of "Bests"
Looking for a specific type of plant can be hard and so here are some of the answers to frequently asked questions about water plants. Want to know which are the biggest, the smallest and the most prolific lilies? Read on.
Earliest
If you want a lily that will bloom early each season, then pick from Nymphaea Gladstoniana, W. B. Shaw, N. Marliacea chromatella, James Brydon, N. somptuosa, N. colossea, Comanche, and N. gloriosa. All of these lilies are virtually guaranteed to be the earliest to bloom.
Largest Lilies
The largest species of Hardies include Nymphaea Gladstoniana, Escarboucle, William Doogue, N. Andre-ana, Mme. Julien Chifflot and Sunrise. Of the day bloomers, the best are Aviator Pring, Peach Blow, Pink Platter, Shell Pink, Talisman and Wild Rose. For night-blooming Tropicals, the biggest blooms you can get are the James Gurney and B. C. Berry varieties.
Most Prolific and Fragrant
In terms of the most prolific lilies, W.B. Shaw and James Brydon are two of the best Hardies, as well as N. flavovirens and Director Moore for the day-blooming Tropicals. In the night bloomers, N. dentata magnifica and N.Omarana have almost free blooming flowers in a long succession.
Most of the day-blooming varieties are very fragrant. However, for the Hardies the best are James, Helen Fowler and Rose Arey blossoms.
Double Blossom Flowers
There are a number of double-flowered water lilies, with the most distinctive Hardies being Nymphaea tuberosa Richardsonii, James Brydon and Gloire de Temple sur Lot. The best double-flower day bloomer is N. capensis zanzibariensi, while of the night bloomers Sturtevant and Missouri are two of the best around.
Shallow and Deep Water Lily Pools
For shallow pools or tubs, virtually all of the night and day-blooming Tropicals do well. Of the Hardies for shallow pools, N. odorata minor, N. tetragona and Jo Anne Pring are some of the best around.
For deeper water lily pools, you really need to go for one of the Hardies, such as Nymphaea alba candidissima, N. odorata gigantea, N. tuberosa and N. Marliacea albida, rosea and carnea.
Best Six, Dozen and Eighteen for Beginners
Perhaps the most frequently asked question is which are the best lilies to get started with for a new water lily garden or pond? Well, the six best to pick if you have a fairly small pool are: Nymphaea Marliacea albida, rosea, and chromatella; N. Robinsoniana, Attraction and Mrs. C.W. Thomas.
We only talk about Hardies because most people want to start out with perennial growers and then select Tropicals at a later time. If you have a slightly larger pool and want to use 12 lilies, then add these six to the original list: Nymphaea alba candidissima, N. tuberosa Richardsonii, W. B. Shaw, N. Gladstoniana, William Falconer and Mrs. Richmond.
And for those with the largest pools, add these additional six for the best eighteen lilies around: Nymphaea lucida, N. odorata rosea, Dawn, N. fulva, William Doogue and Rose Arey.