Share your pictures? Hide split images

New arrival

Nymphaea Yellow Queen - Waterlily

Nymphaea Yellow Queen
Water lily, Water nymph

Be the first to leave a review

Schedule delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

More information

This hardy water lily is appreciated for its large bright yellow flowers, reminiscent of tropical water lilies. Its flowering spreads from May to September. Its star-shaped flowers are slightly fragrant and stand a few centimetres above the surface. The plant develops large dark green leaves marbled with reddish-purple. It is an easy aquatic plant that enjoys the sun. Plant it between 40 and 100 cm deep in a medium to large water feature. Make sure that the water in your pond does not freeze at this depth.

Flower size

20 cm

Height at maturity

20 cm

Spread at maturity

1.50 m

Exposure

Sun

Hardiness

Hardy down to -20°C

Soil moisture

Damp soil

Does this plant fit my garden?

Set up your Plantfit profile →

Best planting time March to April

Recommended planting time March to June

JAN J

FEB F

MAR M

APR A

MAY M

JUN J

JUL J

AUG A

SEP S

OCT O

NOV N

DEC D

Flowering time May to September

JAN J

FEB F

MAR M

APR A

MAY M

JUN J

JUL J

AUG A

SEP S

OCT O

NOV N

DEC D

Description

Nymphaea 'Yellow Queen' can spread up to 1.5m in width. This hardy water lily is perfect for medium to large-sized water features. From May to September, large yellow star-shaped flowers measuring 15 to 20cm in diameter and slightly fragrant, rise a few centimetres above the water. Its wide rounded leaves are green with violet spots. This hardy aquatic plant should be planted in full sun, submerged 40 to 100cm in water, directly in the soil, in a basket, or mud. Make sure the water does not freeze at this depth during winter.

The Nymphaea hybrid 'Yellow Queen' is a horticultural creation by Perry Dean Slocum (USA) dating back to 1991. It is a perennial aquatic plant of the Nymphaeaceae family with deciduous foliage. Its wide floating leaves appear in spring and can reach 20 to 30cm in diameter. They are rounded and split, green with red-violet spots. The plant is particularly vigorous and grows up to 20cm high when flowering and 90cm to 1.50m wide. Flowering usually starts in May and continues until September. The flowers rise a few centimetres above the water level. They are star-shaped, 15 to 20cm in diameter and slightly fragrant. The long and slender petals curl at their tips, like tropical water lilies. The corollas open during the day and close at night. The flowers are bright yellow, revealing a golden yellow stamen. Each flower lasts 4 to 5 days before fading and being replaced by a new one.

This water lily is perfect for a medium-sized pond. It is hardy as long as its rhizome and the surrounding water do not freeze in winter. It blooms for long weeks, from late spring to early autumn, even though its flowering is not the most abundant among hardy water lilies. It is also an oxygenating aquatic plant that plays a crucial role in the health of your water feature. Its floating leaves provide shade and shelter for fish. Dragonflies and amphibians can easily land on them. On the banks of your water feature, the yellow flowers of your Nymphaea will blend beautifully with the blue flowers of Japanese Iris 'Activity' or 'Illumination'. Add some height to your composition with Typha angustifolia or narrow leaf cattail.

Flowering

Flower colour yellow

Flowering time May to September

Inflorescence Solitary

Flower size 20 cm

Fragrance slightly scented

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous

Foliage colour variegated

Plant habit

Height at maturity 20 cm

Spread at maturity 1.50 m

Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Nymphaea

Cultivar

Yellow Queen

Family

Nymphaeaceae

Other common names

Water lily, Water nymph

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference • 21275

Planting and care

The rootstock of Nymphaea 'Yellow Queen' should be planted a few centimetres deep, in 40 cm to 1 m of water. Hardy water lilies tolerate winter better if the depth of the pond is at least 50 cm. The water should not freeze at the depth at which they are planted. In shallow ponds, planting in a container is possible. In this case, over winter the rootstocks in damp sand, protected from frost. Plant them in good, rich garden soil, inserting them vertically to the collar. Avoid using horticultural compost, which is too rich. It is also possible to plant the rootstocks in a basket, about 40 cm wide. Simply sink the basket in the desired location and weight it down if necessary. Plant your rootstocks soon after receiving them. Choose the sunniest location and allow at least 1 m between each.
In a natural water feature (pond or lake), make sure that the water level remains fairly stable and that the water is neither too acidic nor too alkaline (pH between 6.5 and 7.5).
If there are fish in your pond, it is advisable to spread a thick layer of coarse gravel at the base to deter them from digging up the rootstock.
Water lilies are hungry plants: every year, at the beginning of the growing season, apply a slow-release fertiliser that will nourish your water lily throughout its growing period (for example: Osmocote 10-11-18-2 with a duration of 5-6 months).
During the summer, remove any leaves that may grow excessively in the centre of the clump, keeping only the most beautiful ones. Remove those that are yellowed or stained.