Product Overview
Nymphaea 'Islamorada'
Islamorada has medium purple flowers accented by off-white marbling in each of the petals. This marbling gives the overall impression of a light purple bloom, although the base purple color is darker. The underside of the petal also has a darker purple base than when viewed from above--this, combined with the fact that Islamorada blooms last longer than most waterliy blooms as a cut flower, make it an excellent choice for using as a cut flower. Islamorada is viviparous, which means it can grow new plantlets from its water lily pads. Being viviparous also means that Islamorada is slightly more cold tolerant, giving it a longer growing season. A truely unusual tropical water lily. It has a long blooming season and is very free flowering.
SIZE: Medium to Large (5'+ Spread)
PLANTING CONTAINER: We recommend a 12.5" x 7" or 15" x 7" fabric pot. Click on the link to read about why fabric pots work better!
FERTILIZING: For best health and growth, and especially for maximizing the size and number of blooms, we recommend fertilizing waterlilies regularly. Use Pondtabbs 20 count, 60 count, or 300 count for fast release, or Aquascape 6 count or 12 count capsules for slow release (once a year) fertilizing. Aquascape is preferred for low maintenance, but Pondtabbs are useful in Spring when Aquascape is slow to start in low temperatures. Pondtabbs are also useful for a quick extra nutrient push for extra bloom, and for mid-summer fertilizing of a new plant (we don't recommend using slow release fertilizer in mid-summer or later in cold climates, as plants should run out of fertilizer at the end of the year to encourage dormancy in cold climates). For best bloom, double the amount of fertilizer for tropicals, compared to other plants.
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Full sun to partial shade; the more sun, the more bloom. Avoid shade in cooler climates.
WATER DEPTH: 6" TO 24" (Maximum water depth is for mature water lilies) Shallow water is warmer, so better for plants in cooler climates
CHARACTERISTICS: Viviparous--produces babies on the leaves, and in warmer climates often overwinters without going completely dormant .
USDA HARDINESS ZONES: 9-11
Water Lilies are shipped bare root and will require planting upon arrival. For in depth planting and maintenance instructions, including overwintering, visit Planting and Care for Tropical Waterlilies.
For information on Using Plants for Pond Filtration, please read our blog on this topic!
