A 1922 introduction that propagates itself. Nymphaea 'August Koch' carries large, fragrant violet-blue flowers over olive-green pads, and it is highly viviparous — new plantlets form on the leaves, so one plant becomes several. It was raised at Garfield Park in Chicago and named for August Koch, who bred it alongside George H. Pring.
What You'll Receive
- You will get 1 young and freshly harvested water lily tuber
- All of our water lilies tubers/rhizomes have been inspected before ship out and guaranteed they are viable and perfect to grow in a proper pond environment
Plant Profile
- Common name — August Koch Water Lily
- Scientific name — Nymphaea 'August Koch'
- Origin — Garfield Park, Chicago, 1922; bred by August Koch and George H. Pring
- Parentage — Likely 'Blue Beauty' × 'Mrs. Woodrow Wilson'
- Type — Tropical water lily, viviparous
- Flower — Large violet-blue, fragrant
- Foliage — Olive-green pads
- Placement — Ponds and still-water containers, or tanks 20 gallons and up
Care
- Difficulty — Beginner
- Sunlight — Full sun; at least 6 hours of direct sun daily
- Water — 70–80°F
- Substrate — Heavy clay or loam in a submerged container
- Planting angle — Tropical tuber: straight up at 90°, crown level with the soil
- Feeding — Water lily fertilizer tablets pushed into the soil every few weeks through the growing season
- Overwintering — Tropical. In cool climates lift the plant and store the rhizome in damp sand and peat moss at 50–55°F
- Propagation — Viviparous plantlets on the leaves; also tuber division
Grower's Notes
- Highly viviparous, which is the practical reason to choose it. Plantlets form on mature pads and can be lifted and potted once they have roots and a leaf of their own. Most lilies only increase by division — this one multiplies through the season on its own.
- Indoors, light is the whole question. It grows well enough in a tank of 20 gallons or more and will still throw plantlets, but the violet-blue flowers only come under very strong, sun-like lighting run for a long day. Below that, expect pads and plantlets rather than blooms — and expect to trim those pads regularly, because they cover the surface quickly.
- Over a century in cultivation. A 1922 cultivar that is still sold has earned its place on performance, not novelty.
- Fragrant as well as blue. Scent is not a given among the blue tropicals, so site it where people sit.
- Wants still water and real warmth — 70–80°F suits it. Keep the pot clear of fountains and waterfall outflows.
- Leave old pads in place while plantlets are forming. Tidying them away removes the next generation.
New to planting water lilies? Read our complete Water Lily Planting Guide — tuber angle, soil, depth and the one mistake that kills most first lilies.
Notes
- We don't ship dormant roots. Your tuber arrives fresh and actively growing with 1–2 young leaves already emerged — visible proof it's viable before it leaves us. Young pads may start fully submerged and will reach the surface within about a week in good light.
- Remove dead leaves and spent flowers to keep the water clean — though leave any pad carrying plantlets until they are ready to lift.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Tropical water lily tubers arrive well-packaged and healthy. Customers said plants were "bigger than expected" with quality tubers. Most reported excellent condition on arrival and successful growth. Some concerns about blooming delays and occasional shipping damage, though one plant didn't survive. Missing instructions noted. Overall positive for plant quality and packaging.
- Very healthy plants. Thank you.
- Received them in great shape. They were bigger than what I expected.
- Best Price. Fast service excellent quality.
l
Received them in great shape. They were bigger than what I expected. I planted hem the same day and they are doing well.
D
Though I only just received the tubers, they appeared in quality condition.
I have since planted and placed in pond.
Time will tell as to foliage & flower.
I really hope it’s the deep purple I ordered.
H
Sadly it didnt make it, but it seemed well packed on arrival
T
Very nice
A
It is my first order. Very healthy plants. Thank you 😊.
D
Very nice tuber. Waiting for it to grow up and produce beautiful flowers
A
Thank you.
R
nice and healthy
A
Came on time, well packaged and looks healthy.
D
Came well packed and arrived in excellent condition.
P
I have never grown tropicals before but have been considering it for quite some time. I received three of these that seem to be doing well, as far as I know. They did seem a little “squishy” on the tops, but maybe that’s normal. I’m excited to see what comes and hope they look beautiful this summer! If so, I will definitely be purchasing more lilies in the future from this company!!
S
Little too soon to say, but I have planted them and they are growing!
E
Best Price. Fast service excellent quality.
P
Received my order ; on time. ; very nice tuber. Already had several leaves sprouting out. This is the second time I ordered from Aquarium plants factory ; Both times received very nice quality tubers.
J
No instructions came with package. Not sure if the rizones will take. No roots were evident.
M
I'm rating it 5 stars because of the company's willingness to replace this plant. I sent the shipping fee for the replacement but have not yet received it.
C
The plants were fresh and lively. Thank you. Even after 4 months it has not bloomed yet. Any hint?
M
AS you know it came in with my smashed order so it will be a while to see if it lives
E
The plant description doesn't seem to indicate how big are the leaves? How large will this plant spread? Are the flowers fragrant? Planting depth to surface of water is 6 inches only?
The reason I ask is, after buying a similar "miniature" lily from another grower, the leaves were 10 inches across and spread three feet.
Great questions! August Koch is a classic, full-size tropical water lily, not a miniature - so plan for it to fill out similarly to what you described: leaves typically run 8-12 inches across, and mature spread is usually in the 4-6 foot range in good conditions, so it needs real pond space. Yes, the flowers are fragrant. On depth, 6 inches works fine to get it started, but tropicals like this generally do best and bloom most with 12-18 inches of water over the crown once established - you can start shallow and gradually deepen as it grows. Let us know if you have a specific pond size in mind and we're happy to advise further!
D
is this a day or night bloomer?
Nymphaea August Koch is a day bloomer water lily.
C
The Description says this water lily is tropical. What growth zone will it grow in? I live in zone six. I have a small Koi pond. Would I have to lift it out during the winter? Thanks!
Great question! Tropical water lilies like this one are generally only reliably winter-hardy outdoors in USDA zones 10-11. In zone 6, the tuber won't survive a pond winter outdoors, so yes, you'd need to lift it out before the water gets cold and either overwinter the tuber indoors (similar to how you'd store a dahlia) or simply treat it as a seasonal annual and replace it in spring.
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