Nymphaea 'Comanche'
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Tried and True Recommended by 2 Professionals
Common Name: hardy water lily
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Zone: 4 to 10
Height: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Spread: 5 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: May to To frost
Bloom Color: Brown, Yellow
Bloom Description: Yellow turnning coppery bronze
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Wet
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Uses: Rain Garden, Suitable as Annual, Water Plant

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 in containers submerged in ponds or water gardens where the water is 12-48” deep. When planted in containers, plants can be more easily moved later on if desired. Rhizomes may be planted directly in the muddy bottom of a pond. Hardy water lilies will overwinter without difficulty in the St. Louis area, whether growing in ponds or in water gardens, as long as the water does not freeze to the bottom. If necessary, however, rhizomes grown in containers may easily be lifted and overwintered in a cool frost-free root cellar or garage where winter temperatures preferably remain in the 40-45 degree F. range.

Noteworthy Characteristics

This hardy hybrid waterlily is typically grown in ponds or water gardens. Rounded, speckled, greenish leaves (to 8” across) float on the water surface. Cup-shaped, semi-double flowers (to 5” diameter) feature upward-curving petals that open yellow but turn coppery-bronze and a central mass of dark yellow stamens. Flowers bloom continuously from May until frost. Each flower appears on or just above the water surface, opening in the morning and closing at night. Flowers typically bloom for about 5 days.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Leaf mining midges and aphids can be troublesome in some areas.

Garden Uses

Water gardens or ponds. May also be grown in large tubs or containers.

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