Detective Erika Hardy Purple Water Lily – The One Purple Lily You Must Own

Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily is an extraordinary cross between a hardy water lily and a tropical purple water lily. Unlike earlier purple hybrids, this award-winning lily from hybridizer Zijun Li produces intensely vivid purple flowers with golden centers that bloom abundantly all summer long. The blooms are bold, full, and striking—without the hooded petals or leggy habits found in older purple cultivars. This is the purple hardy lily collectors and hobbyists have been waiting for!

Special Planting & Shipping Conditions

Detective Erika is winter-hardy, but because of its tropical parentage, it emerges later in the spring than normal hardy lilies. This means:

• Do not plant too early. Detective Erika requires warm water (around 70°F at root level) to break dormancy.

• Shipping protocol: We do not ship before late May. Orders containing Detective Erika will be delayed until your region has consistent afternoon highs in the 80s and night temps in the 50s.

• Separate orders option: If you want other plants earlier, place a second order. We cannot make exceptions or ship Detective Erika early.

• Dormancy risk: If planted in cold water, Detective Erika will abort its leaves and revert to dormancy. Please wait for proper water temps.

👉 Patience pays off: This lily is worth the wait, and once planted in warm conditions, Detective Erika quickly becomes a massive bloomer with a truly tropical look.

Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily Planting Instructions

• Container: Use a wide 16-inch x 7-inch container (or larger) to support the vigorous root system.

• Soil: Heavy loam soil only—never bagged compost mixes.

• Depth (from soil to water surface): 5–15 inches. Keep shallow for best blooming.

• Sunlight: Minimum of 6 hours, ideally full, strong midday sun.

• Fertilizer: Insert 4–6 Waterlily World Fertilizer Tabs every two weeks during the growing season (April–September). Push tabs 3–4 inches deep near the crown.

• Overwintering: This hardy ISG lily will survive cold winters once established, but always plant when water temps are warm in spring.

Do’s and Don’ts for Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily

✅ Do:

• Plant only when water temps reach 70°F at root level.

• Use a large, wide pot with heavy loam soil.

• Place in shallow water (5–15 inches) for best bloom production.

• Provide full sun—at least 6 hours daily.

• Divide every 1–2 years to maintain flowering.

❌ Don’t:

• Do not request early shipping—we cannot send before your water temps are ready.

• Do not let the plant dry out upon arrival—pot immediately.

• Do not cover the crown with stones or gravel.

• Do not overcrowd or allow floating plants to shade Detective Erika—this lily needs open surface and sunlight to thrive.

• Do not place in cold spring water—this leads to immediate dormancy and delays blooming.

Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily Specifications