There’s nothing quite like a water lily but adding one of these striking and instantly recognisable aquatic plants to a pond is not without its problems.

The huge number of varieties available coupled with their range of sizes – from small examples which would barely cover a square foot (0.1sq m) of pond surface to giants that can easily blanket an area fifty times as large – make choosing the right one as difficult as it is important.

Add to this that although all water lilies need good daily exposure to full sun if they are to flower properly, exactly how long they need varies considerably between the different kinds and picking something appropriate can become quite complicated.

Fortunately, there are ways to take a lot of the uncertainty out of the job, and with a little careful research, you should be able to find just the right lily for your pond without too much trouble.

Picking the Right Size pond lily

Water lilies are normally grouped into four broad categories – dwarf, small, medium and vigorous – and although this isn’t a perfect system, since some lilies don’t really fit neatly into one category or another, it’s a pretty good starting point and works well enough most of the time.

Members of the ‘vigorous’ group are not candidates for the garden – unless, that is, yours includes a lake or a slow moving river! Deciding which of the remaining three general types you should be looking for obviously depends on the size of your pond and the trick is to pick your lilies so that when they’re fully grown, they’ll still leave around half of the pond’s surface area uncovered. It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning on a single specimen lily or two or three varieties, the same rule applies; the combined total cover shouldn’t amount to more than 50 per cent of the pond.

Once you’ve worked out the surface area of your pond, the rest becomes fairly straight forward and all that remains is to find a lily to suit your needs from the appropriate group. There’s a good range of colours and growing habits in all of them, so whatever you’re looking for, you shouldn’t be disappointed. Look out for varieties labelled ‘changeable’ – their flowers start out yellow, before turning pink and finally red; if the idea appeals, it can certainly add a little extra interest to the pond.

Other types of pond plants:

Oxygenating pond plants, marginal pond plants, pond edge plants, floating pond plants, floating pond water lilies and deep water pond plants.

Best Dwarf Lilies for ponds – Find the best water lily for small pond

With a spread of 12 to 24 inches (30-60cm) and covering between 1 and 3 square feet (0.1 – 0.3sq m) when fully grown, dwarf lilies in general are ideally suited to small ponds, while some of the smallest of their kind can safely be used in tubs and half-barrels.

They need a planting depth of around 6 inches (15cm) and will repay selection with a series of small but beautiful flowers over the summer.

Some of the best kinds to consider include:

• Nymphaea ‘Aurora’ – a compact ‘changeable’ variety, suited to tubs as well as small ponds.
• Nymphaea ‘Paul Hariot’ – another ‘changeable’ it has big flowers for a dwarf variety.
• N. pygmaea‘Alba’ – a tiny flowering variety ideal for the smallest of water features.
• N. pygmaea‘Helvola’ – a popular and attractive lily, with prolific yellow star shaped flowers.

Small Lilies for ponds

Small lilies typically need a planting depth of around a foot (30cm) and cover an area of around 3 – 12 square feet (0.3 – 1.1sq m), with a spread of between 2 and 4 feet (0.6 – 1.2m). Small lilies will do well in small ponds, and offer larger flowers than most of the dwarf varieties.

Look out for the following varieties, amongst others:

• Nymphaea ‘Froebeli’ – not particularly commonly seen, but well worth trying; produces prolific deep red flowers.
• Nymphaea ‘Laydekeri’ – a number of Laydekeri varieties exist, all of which are ideal for even very small ponds.
• Nymphaea ‘Sioux’ – a ‘changeable’ variety with distinctively pointed petals and purple spotted leaves.

Medium Lilies for ponds

Perfect as a specimen lily in larger ponds, this group’s members will cover up to 20 square feet (1.8sq m) of the surface when they are fully grown, having a spread of around 5 feet (1.5m) per plant. These lilies typically require a planting depth of between 18 inches and 2 feet (45- 60cm).

Good examples include:

• Nymphaea marliacea ‘Albida’ – an ever-popular favourite, with prolific and highly fragrant snow white flowers.
• Nymphaea ‘Maseniello’ – a strong and prolific hybrid lily, with rose-pink flowers; inclined to spread, so it’s not suitable for very small ponds.
• Nymphaea atropurpurea – deep red, cup shaped flowers, suitable for most ponds with a surface area of around 35 square feet (3.2 sq m) or more.

Tempting though an attractive photograph may be – or a ‘bargain’ price – it’s well worth making sure that the lily you pick really is the right one for your pond; in the long run, you’ll be glad you did.

Types of water lilies

• Aponogeton distachyos – Water Hawthorn: This aquatic plant is also known as the Cape Pondweed or Waterblommetjie. It is native to South Africa and has fragrant white flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is popular in water gardens for its attractive appearance and delicate scent.
• Nymphaea Aurora – Dwarf Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a dwarf variety of water lily, with small, pink flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is well-suited for small ponds and water features, as it does not require a large amount of space to grow.
• Nymphaea Candidissima – Small White Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a small white water lily that is native to Europe and Asia. It has small, fragrant flowers that bloom above the water surface and is often grown in small ponds and water gardens.
• Nymphaea Indiana – Apricot to Pink Dwarf Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a dwarf variety of water lily, with apricot to pink flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is well-suited for small ponds and water features, as it does not require a large amount of space to grow.
• Nymphaea Paul Hariot – Changeable Colored Dwarf Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a dwarf variety of water lily, with flowers that change color from pink to yellow as they mature. It is a popular choice for small ponds and water gardens.
• Nymphaea Perry’s Baby Red – Rounded Red Dwarf Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a dwarf variety of water lily, with rounded red flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is well-suited for small ponds and water features, as it does not require a large amount of space to grow.
• Nymphaea Xiafei – Small Red Flower Dwarf Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a dwarf variety of water lily, with small red flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is well-suited for small ponds and water features, as it does not require a large amount of space to grow.
• Hydrocharis morsus-ranae – Frogbit: This aquatic plant is also known as European frogbit, and is a small, floating plant that resembles a miniature water lily. It is often used in water gardens and ponds to provide shade and shelter for fish and other aquatic creatures.
• Nymphaea pygmaea helvola – Miniature Pale Yellow Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a miniature variety of water lily, with small, pale yellow flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is well-suited for small ponds and water features, as it does not require a large amount of space to grow.
• Nymphaea pygmaea rubra – Miniature Pink Waterlily: This aquatic plant is a miniature variety of water lily, with small, pink flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is well-suited for small ponds and water features, as it does not require a large amount of space to grow.
• Nymphaea Snow Princess – White Waterlily with Red Leaves: This aquatic plant is a white water lily with red leaves that is popular in water gardens and ponds. It has large, fragrant flowers that bloom above the water surface.
• Nymphaea alba – White Waterlily (British Native): This aquatic plant is a native of Europe and has white, fragrant flowers that bloom above the water surface. It is often grown in water gardens and ponds.
• Hydrocharis morsus-ranae – Frogbit: Frogbit is a floating aquatic plant that belongs to the water lily family. It has small, round leaves that float on the water surface and tiny white flowers that bloom in summer. Frogbit is often used in ponds and aquariums as it is easy to care for and helps to keep the water clean.
• Nymphaea pygmaea helvola – Miniature Pale Yellow Waterlily: Miniature Pale Yellow Waterlily is a small, hardy water lily with bright yellow flowers that bloom in summer. It is ideal for small ponds or container water gardens, and its small size makes it a good choice for smaller spaces.
• Nymphaea pygmaea rubra – Miniature Pink Waterlily: Miniature Pink Waterlily is a tiny, hardy water lily that produces small pink flowers that bloom in summer. It is perfect for small ponds or container water gardens and can add a splash of color to any water feature.
• Nymphaea Snow Princess – White Waterlily with Red Leaves: Snow Princess is a stunning water lily with pure white flowers and red-tinged leaves. It is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, making it a popular choice for pond owners.
• Nymphaea alba – White Waterlily (British Native): The White Waterlily is a native British plant that produces large, fragrant, white flowers that bloom from June to September. It is an ideal plant for larger ponds and lakes, where its large leaves provide shelter for fish and other wildlife.
• Nymphaea Attraction – Red Waterlily: Attraction is a striking water lily with bright red flowers that bloom from June to September. It is a hardy plant that can grow in a wide range of water conditions and is perfect for adding a splash of color to any pond or water feature.
• Nymphaea Black Princess – Dark Maroon Waterlily: Black Princess is a stunning water lily with dark maroon flowers that bloom in summer. It is a hardy plant that can tolerate a wide range of water conditions and is perfect for adding drama and contrast to any pond or water feature.
• Nymphaea Darwin – Pink Waterlily with Orange Centre: Darwin is a beautiful water lily with pink flowers and an orange center that bloom from June to September. It is a hardy plant that can grow in a wide range of water conditions and is perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any pond or water feature.
• Nymphaea Gladstoniana – Large White Waterlily: Gladstoniana is a large, hardy water lily with white flowers that bloom from June to September. It is ideal for larger ponds and lakes, where its large leaves provide shelter for fish and other wildlife.
• Nymphaea Gloriosa – Blue Waterlily (Egyptian): Gloriosa is a stunning blue water lily that was originally native to Egypt. It has large, fragrant blue flowers that bloom in summer and is a hardy plant that can grow in a wide range of water conditions.