Nymphaea Denver

The Nymphaea 'Denver' is one of the few varieties of ivory water lilies. It is a hardy hybrid prized for its elegant double pastel flowers, versatility, and improved shade tolerance. The leaves of this water lily are ovate, fairly light green, adorned with reddish-brown spots that fade over the season. This variety is suitable for ponds of all sizes, with its rhizomes ideally planted at a depth of 40 to 80 cm and 80 cm.

The hybrid water lily 'Denver' is a horticultural creation by Robert Kirk Strawn (USA) dating back to 1996. It is a aquatic perennial with deciduous foliage that belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family. This plant develops numerous floating leaves measuring 10 to 12 cm in diameter on a mature plant starting from spring. The leaves are ovate and their sinus is often closed, with their two lobes overlapping. When young, they are heavily maculate with reddish-brown and gradually turn green while retaining brownish spots. The plant, of medium vigour, spreads on average to 1.20 m. Flowering begins in June and continues until September. The double flowers, cup-shaped, with 48 petals, slightly fragrant, measure between 8 and 12 cm in diameter. Their very soft colour is ivory white with a touch of yellow and a very light pink blush at the base. They open on the water's surface or at the top of short peduncles slightly above the surface. These corollas open during the day and close in the evening. Each flower lives for 4 to 5 days before withering, it returns underwater and is replaced by another flower. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing numerous seeds. The fruit ripens underwater and releases floating seeds that will 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 installed.

Choose varieties of water lilies that are easy, hardy, and floriferous, and above all, those that have a size proportionate to your pond. With their perfectly shaped flowers, water lilies are among the most beautiful pond plants. Most of them bloom for many 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 floating leaves on the water's surface will provide shade and shelter for your fish, which in turn will protect them from predatory insects such as aphids.

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