Plant Finder

Other Names:  Mexican Water Lily, Banana Water Lily, Waterlily

Description:

A southern native water lily with pale yellow star-shaped flowers with darker yellow centers; blooms from spring to winter; attractive, round green foliage; easy to care for; water lilies dislike moving water; annual in colder climates

Ornamental Features

Yellow Water Lily features showy fragrant buttery yellow cup-shaped flowers with yellow eyes at the ends of the stems from late spring to late fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive glossy round leaves remain green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Yellow Water Lily is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a low habit of growth, spreading atop the surface of the water. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Yellow Water Lily is ideally suited for growing in a pond, water garden or patio water container, and is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Water Gardens
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Yellow Water Lily will grow to be about 14 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the water, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. As an aquatic plant, it requires a suitable water garden environment and will benefit from special planting and ongoing care practices; consult one of our in-store experts for further details and instructions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

Yellow Water Lily is a fine choice for the water garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when grown in outdoor pots and containers, aquatic plants like this one will require a special growing environment that meets their requirement for consistent moisture.