Atropurpurea Hardy Water Lily

Atropurpurea Hardy Water Lily — Deep, Classic Red with Nonstop Flowers

The Atropurpurea Hardy Water Lily is a medium-to-large hardy water lily renowned for intense, dark-red blooms (≈4–6") that open day after day in full sun. A steady perennial pond plant, Atropurpurea can produce remarkable flower counts in a season when planted shallow and fed on schedule—bringing rich, romantic color to any water garden.

Why Customers Love It

• Deep crimson-red flowers that read clearly from across the pond

• Heavy bloomer in full sun with a simple tablet schedule

• Container friendly: performs beautifully in 12–16"+ wide shallow pots

• Hardy & reliable—returns each year with minimal care

Plant Requirements (quick reference)

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

• Container: 12–16"+ wide, shallow aquatic container (fabric pots preferred)

• Depth (soil surface → water surface): 6–12" (shallower = more flowers; tolerates to ~18")

• Spread: ~3–5 ft at maturity

• Soil: Heavy loam topsoil only (no bagged mix, peat, “aquatic media,” or gravel)

Care & Fertilizing (simple schedule)

• Fertilizer tablets: 4 tablets on the 1st & 15th of each month (May–September)

• Application: Press tablets 3–4" into the soil around (not on) the crown

• Maintenance: Trim spent blooms/yellow leaves; divide every 1–2 years to maintain peak flowering

Water Lily Planting Tips

• Plant shallower (6–10") to warm the crown and jump-start buds

• Keep surface water open and unshaded—pads are your “solar panels” for flowers

• Never cover the crown with stones or gravel; leave it slightly exposed

• Use wide, shallow containers to encourage rhizome run and bigger bloom counts

Do’s & Don’ts

Do

• Plant in full sun and heavy loam

• Fertilize twice monthly on schedule for continuous blooms

• Repot immediately on arrival; keep all parts wet while planting

Don’t

• ❌ Don’t use compost/peat mixes, “aquatic media,” or gravel (they float, rot, or smother crowns)

• ❌ Don’t let floating plants shade Atropurpurea—light drives flowering

• ❌ Don’t plant too deep (>18") if you want frequent blooms

Helpful Links

• Full Planting Instructions →

• Waterlily World® Fertilizer Tablets →

• PondGro™ Aquatic Loam Soil →

• Aquatic Containers →

• PondGro™ Fabric Pots →

Shipped as: a live young adult plant (rhizome with leaves/lilypads). Plant immediately in heavy loam soil and set at the recommended depth. Minor leaf yellowing from transit is normal and quickly replaced by new growth.