Nymphaea Escarboucle - Waterlily

The Nymphaea 'Escarboucle' is an old variety of hardy water lily, still very popular for its large satin flowers of a rich red, which smell so good and close quite late in the evening. It is a vigorous plant with significant growth, whose large round green leaves perfectly highlight the long summer flowering. This superb variety is suitable for medium to large bodies of water. Its rhizome is planted under 40 cm to 1 m of water (ideally 75 cm and up to 1.85 m).

The hybrid Nymphaea 'Escarboucle' is a horticultural creation by Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac (France) in 1909. It is a perennial with deciduous foliage belonging to the Nymphaeaceae family. Starting from spring, this plant develops numerous floating leaves measuring 16 to 25 cm in diameter in mature plants. The leaves are round, with smooth edges, and their sinus is normally half open. When young, they are brown and gradually turn olive green. The plant, particularly vigorous, spreads over 1.20 m to 1.50 m. Flowering usually begins in June and continues until late summer. The double flowers measure 14 to 16 cm in diameter and float on the water. They first open in the shape of a cup, then into a star. The petals have a beautifully uniform garnet red and a lovely satin sheen. Outside the corolla, the sepals are striped with carmine red. Their centre is adorned with yellow and scarlet red stamens. These corollas open during the day and close in the evening. Each flower lives for 4 to 5 days before wilting; it returns underwater and is replaced by another flower. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing numerous seeds. The fruit matures underwater, releasing floating seeds that eventually sink and germinate in the mud. Water lilies are hardy as long as their rhizome does not freeze in winter. It is important to ensure that the water does not freeze at the depth where they are planted.

Choose varieties of water lilies that are easy, hardy, and floriferous, and above all, those that have a size proportionate to your pond. Nymphaeas are among the most beautiful perennial pond plants with their perfectly shaped flowers. Most of them bloom for long weeks until early autumn. The water lily is an essential aquatic plant for the proper balance of a garden pond, as it contributes to the oxygenation of the water. Its leaves floating on the water's surface will provide shade and shelter for your fish, protecting them from predatory insects such as aphids.

The genus name comes from the Greek nymphaia and the Latin name nymphaea, which means "water lily". The nymphs of Greek and Latin mythology inspired them. Nymphaea bears flowers that are sometimes diurnal, sometimes nocturnal, and occasionally fragrant.