Tanpong Hardy Water Lily

Tanpong Hardy Water Lily (Nymphaea ‘Tanpong’) — Rare Collector’s Lily (Delicate When Moved)

The Tanpong water lily (Nymphaea ‘Tanpong’) is a beautiful, unique winter hardy water lily hybrid created by Pairat Songpanich (Thailand, ~2006). It’s known for large, showy, multi-petaled blooms with a distinct look—yet it’s also famous for being notoriously difficult to establish, reproduce, and transplant. Tanpong can weaken or die back after repotting or handling, which is exactly why it remains rare and prized among serious water gardeners.

If you want a collector-grade hardy water lily that rewards careful growers with unforgettable flowers, Tanpong is a true treasure.

Why Shoppers Choose Tanpong

• Rare winter hardy water lily you don’t see everywhere

• Large, showy blooms with a distinctive form

• A true collector pond plant for experienced growers

• Hardy perennial once well-established

Plant Requirements (quick reference)

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

• Container: 15–20"+ wide shallow aquatic pot (fabric pots preferred)

• Depth (soil surface → water surface): 6–14" to establish; can be lowered to 14–24" once strong

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

• Water: Calm or gently moving water; avoid fountains splashing directly on pads

Fertilizer Schedule (gentle start, then increase)

Because Tanpong can be sensitive during establishment, feed smart:

• First month after planting: 3–4 fertilizer tablets on the 1st & 15th

• Once established: 4–6 fertilizer tablets on the 1st & 15th (May–September)

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

Do’s ✅ / Don’ts ❌ (Tanpong-specific)

Do

• ✅ Plant Tanpong in its final pot if possible (avoid repeated repotting).

• ✅ Keep it shallow at first (6–10" depth) for faster recovery and stronger blooms.

• ✅ Keep the crown area open to sun and pads unshaded.

• ✅ Divide/repot only when necessary—and do it gently.

Don’t

• ❌ Don’t treat Tanpong like an “easy” hardy—rough handling can set it back hard.

• ❌ Don’t let floating plants crowd it—pads need open water like solar panels.

• ❌ Don’t bury the crown or top the pot with gravel/stones (high mortality risk).

• ❌ Don’t plant too deep early on—depth can reduce vigor and flowering.

Shipping Information (Hardy Water Lily)

• Shipping Window: April–September across the USA.

• Spring Schedule: Ships according to proper planting time for your region; northern states ship later in spring for safe planting.

• Weekly Shipping: After spring begins, orders ship weekly through summer, usually until or through September.

• Method: 2–3 day service (usually UPS); shipped early in the week with tracking emailed the day it ships.

Shipped as: a live young adult plant (rhizome with leaves/lilypads) — plant immediately on arrival. Water lilies dry out fast if exposed to air.

Guarantee / arrival care: If anything arrives in less than good condition, email photos within 24 hours to PondQuestions@gmail.com (include plants out of box + packing slip with initials). Still plant immediately—minor leaf damage is common and new growth follows when conditions are right.

Helpful Links (add your store links)

• Full Planting Instructions →

• Waterlily World® Fertilizer Tablets →

• PondGro™ Aquatic Loam Soil →

• Aquatic Containers →

• PondGro™ Fabric Pots →