Nymphaea Karleen Harder - Waterlily

The Nymphaea 'Karleen Harder' is a medium-sized hardy water lily that is rare in cultivation. Its flowers and leaves are wonderfully coloured, displaying different shades of yellow, copper, and orange, from pastel to vibrant, with very little pink. The flowers float or gracefully rise above the water among very beautiful dark and speckled leaves. This variety deserves a place in a medium-sized pond, with its rhizome planted under 20 to 60 cm of water.

The hybrid water lily 'Karleen Harder' is a horticultural creation by Johan Harder (New South Wales, Australia) in 1984. It is a perennial with deciduous foliage belonging to the Nymphaeaceae family. Starting from spring, this plant develops numerous floating leaves measuring 12 to 15 cm in diameter in a mature plant. The leaves are round, and their sinus is open two-thirds of the way. They are a dark green colour, heavily dotted and marbled with brown. The plant, of medium vigour, occupies approximately 1 m². The early flowering usually begins in May and continues until September. The flowers measure approximately 10 cm in diameter. Their colour ranges from pale yellow to vibrant coppery orange, depending on the sun's intensity. These corollas open during the day and close in the evening. Their centre is adorned with bright yellow stamens that enhance the range of petals. Each flower lives for 4 to 5 days before wilting; another flower returns underwater and replaces it. The flowering is followed by the formation of fruits containing numerous seeds. The fruit ripens underwater and releases 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 installed.

Choose varieties of water lilies that are easy, hardy, and floriferous, and above all, those that have a size proportionate to your pond. Water lilies are among the most beautiful perennial pond plants and have perfectly shaped flowers. Most of them bloom for long weeks until early autumn. The water lily is an essential aquatic plant for maintaining the 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.