Midnight Velvet Annual Water Lily

Midnight Velvet Annual Water Lily — One of the Darkest Purple Lily We’ve Ever Seen (& Very Rare!)

Midnight Velvet is a breathtaking annual water lily (Australian-type) hybridized in Thailand at Buafah Gardens. The blooms are rich, deep, true purple with a glowing yellow center of stamens—and the color stays purple throughout the entire bloom cycle. This is one of the darkest purple water lilies you can grow, and it’s absolutely magnificent in a sunny pond.

Important: Midnight Velvet is not for beginners. Australian-type annual water lilies need very warm water, full sun, and heavy feeding to start and thrive. The payoff is enormous—show-quality flowers that look like velvet on the water.

Why Customers Want Midnight Velvet

• One of the darkest purple water lilies available (stays purple, no fading)

• Big, showy blooms with a bright yellow center

• Rare collector plant — we only have a handful available

• A true centerpiece among premium pond plants

Plant Requirements (quick reference)

• Type: Annual water lily (Australian-type), warm-water specialist

• Sun: Full sun, 6+ hours of strong midday light

• Water temperature: Prefers 80°F water for best growth and flowering

• Container: 3–7 gallon wide, shallow aquatic pot (fabric pots preferred)

• Depth (soil surface → water surface): 12"+ is needed to sprout/activate tubers and establish well

• Spread: 5–12 ft depending on pot size, feeding, and warmth

• Soil: Heavy loam topsoil (or PondGro Aquatic Loam Soil).
  
  No bagged potting mix, compost, peat, gravel, or stones.

Bloom Details (what you’re buying)

• Flower size: Generally 5–8 inches across (depends on plant size)

• Flower height: Often held 8–14 inches above the water

• Bloom cycle: Each flower can last 3–4 days

• Color: Deep dark purple with a bright yellow center; stays purple through the bloom cycle

Fertilizer Schedule (heavy feeder)

Australian-type annual water lilies need about 2× the fertilizer of typical annual water lilies.

• Fertilizer tablets: Feed at least twice monthly (1st & 15th) during the growing season

• Start with 6–8 tablets per feeding once actively growing (adjust as the plant increases in size)

• Push tablets 3–4 inches into the soil around (not on) the crown

Water Lily Planting Tips

• Start in the warmest, sunniest part of the pond (warm water matters as much as sunlight)

• Give it a wide pot—more room = stronger plant = bigger flowers

• Keep surface water open; pads are solar panels for blooms

• Expect a slower start in spring—this is normal for Australian-type annual water lilies

Do’s & Don’ts

Do

• Plant in full sun and very warm water

• Use heavy loam and a 3–7 gallon container

• Fertilize heavily and consistently (this is the key to success)

• Plant immediately on arrival and keep all parts wet

Don’t

• ❌ Don’t start in cool water—this lily may stall or fail to establish

• ❌ Don’t underfeed (this variety needs heavy nutrition to perform)

• ❌ Don’t use gravel/stones on top of soil or bagged potting mixes with compost

• ❌ Don’t crowd with floaters—shade reduces growth and flowering fast

Shipping Information

• Shipping Window: Summer shipping (annual water lilies ship when weather and water temps are warm enough for success)

• Timing: Orders may be held until Midnight Velvet is ready and safe to ship

• Weekly Shipments: Once summer shipping is active, we ship weekly through the season (usually until or through September)

• Method: 2–3 day service (usually UPS); occasionally USPS/FedEx depending on destination

• Schedule: Ships early in the week; tracking emailed on ship day

Shipped as: a live young adult plant (rhizome with leaves/lilypads). Plant immediately in heavy loam soil at the recommended depth. Water lilies dry out quickly if exposed to air.