Information on Lily Pads
- Water lilies grow completely in the water, with long stalks connecting the floating leaves to the roots. Blossoms flourish just on top of the water. Water lilies spread to accommodate the area they are growing in, filling the surface of the water with lily pads. Water lilies require full sun to flourish, and they typically flower from May through September, though there may be differences due to variation and climate. Lily pad growth continues throughout the growing season.
- Hardy water lilies have circular lily pads with smooth round edges and come in a variety of colors. They are perennial. They begin to bloom when the temperature is consistently at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and they become dormant in the fall. Hardy water lilies can survive below the ice in freezing weather. The flowers open by mid-morning and close by late afternoon. New flowers constantly open throughout the season.
Tropical water lilies can be night bloomers or day bloomers, and their lily pads come in many different shapes. Blooms can be more than a foot in diameter. They require temperatures consistently above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to bloom, but they stay in bloom longer than hardy water lilies. Tropical water lilies die during winter months. - Adding water lilies to your pond will fill it with color and keep the water clear and clean. The lily pads will shade the water, keeping it cool in hot summer months, reducing algae growth and protecting small fish from predators. Water lilies help oxygenate the water and absorb nutrients in the water that would otherwise feed undesirable aquatic plants.
- Water lilies can grow in aquatic pots or directly in the bottom of the pond. If using pots, create a hole in the bottom of the pond for the pot to rest in. Water lilies thrive in garden topsoil and prefer minimal water movement. Removing dead or yellowing lily pads and pruning the plants will help them flourish. Hardy water lilies can be planted after any threat of frost has passed, while tropical water lilies shouldn't be planted until pond water has maintained temperatures above 69 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Many people think of frogs when they think of lily pads. Frogs are cold-blooded amphibians that live in the same aquatic environments in which water lilies thrive. They use the lily pads to bask in the sun in tropical areas.
- A dream in which you see a water lily floating or growing indicates prosperity and sorrow or bereavement mixed together in the future. When water lilies are given as a gift, they symbolize eloquence and persuasion.
When the painter Claude Monet was 50 years old, he made a water garden, including water lilies, on the land he purchased in Giverny, France. Monet painted a series of 250 oil paintings titles "Water Lilies" or "Nympheas."