Introduction
'Attraction' waterlily is a hardy hybrid that floats its round foliage and produces a slightly fragrant, multi-petaled, red flower just above the water. It needs about 4 feet to spread its leaves on the water's surface. It has become one of the most popular waterlilies, but recent tests show that it is poorly suited for Florida. Each leaf lasts about 6 weeks before turning yellow. This is normal and should not be cause for concern. Flower showiness is legendary, and each flower lasts several days, but flowers close in late afternoon and at night. Although 'Attraction' requires full sun for best flowering, this one will produce some flowers with only 4 hours of direct sun.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS
General Information
Scientific name: Nymphaea x 'Attraction'
Pronunciation: nim-FEE-uh
Common name(s): 'Attraction' hardy waterlily
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Plant type: aquatic plant
USDA hardiness zones: 3 through 8 (Figure 2)
Planting month for zone 7: year-round
Planting month for zone 8: year-round
Origin: not native to North America
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Uses: cut flowers; attracts butterflies
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant
Credit:
Description
Height: 0.5 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: undulate
Leaf shape: orbiculate
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 12 to 18 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: red
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 part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; grows submerged in water
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
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
'Attraction' hardy waterlily grows in standing water about 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.
'Attraction' 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.
