Nymphaea x 'Fabiola' Fabiola Hardy Water Lily1
Introduction
'Fabiola' waterlily is a hardy, small- to medium-sized waterlily, spreading to 2- or 3-feet across (Fig. 1). It is nicely suited for smaller tubs and ponds where space is limited. Each leaf lasts about 6 weeks before turning yellow. This is normal and should not be cause for concern. The beautiful pink flowers held on the water surface are near legendary and each flower lasts several days, but flowers close in late afternoon and at night.
General Information
Figure 1.
'Fabiola' hardy waterlily
Scientific name: Nymphaea x 'Fabiola'
Pronunciation: nim-FEE-uh
Common name(s): 'Fabiola' hardy waterlily
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Plant type: aquatic plant
USDA hardiness zones: 3 through 10 (Fig. 2)
Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Figure 2.
Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Uses: cut flowers; attracts butterflies
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Description
Height: .5 to 1 feet
Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Plant habit: not applicable
Plant density: open
Growth rate: fast
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: most emerge from the soil, usually without a stem
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: orbiculate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 8 to 12 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: pink
Flower characteristic: pleasant fragrance; summer flowering; fall flowering; spring flowering
Fruit
Fruit shape: unknown
Fruit length: unknown
Fruit cover: unknown
Fruit color: unknown
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in full sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; grows submerged in water
Drought tolerance:
Soil salt tolerances: poor
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: not applicable
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
'Fabiola' waterlily grows in standing water about 12 to 18 inches deep and spreads by means of rhizomes. It can be prevented from spreading by planting it in a container without drainage holes and submerging the container into the water garden. This helps prevent the plant from invading the entire water garden or pond. This waterlily requires full sun for best flowering. The plant does poorly in partial shade.
Hardy waterlilies should be planted in a container filled with garden soil or potting mix. A shallow and wide container is better than a tall, narrow container. The garden soil can be mixed with one-fifth well-decomposed cow manure. Incorporate fertilizer at an equivalent rate of about one-quarter cup 10-10-10 per gallon of soil or media to help stimulate growth. Before filling the container, place a small plastic bag filled with sand at the bottom to keep it from floating in the pond. Plant the rhizome at the edge of the container so it can grow horizontally across the top. Place a 1- or 2-inch layer of sand or gravel over the top of the media after the rhizome is planted in the pot to keep media and soil in the container. Lower the container into 6 inches of water until growth begins. Then it can be set so the bottom is no more than 18 inches below the surface. If the water is too deep, place a brick or concrete block under the container. Do not construct containers from treated lumber since growth could be severely inhibited.
The only maintenance required is monthly application of a slow-release fertilizer. Tablets manufactured by various companies can be placed several inches below the sand or gravel layer at the top of the container. Follow the manufacturer's directions to determine appropriate number of tablets.
Footnotes
This document is FPS439, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October, 1999. Reviewed June, 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
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