Nymphaea Colorado | Pink Hardy Water Lily
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Plant information
Nymphaea Colorado
About this plant
A hardy lily that blooms all season and stays in the pond over winter. Nymphaea 'Colorado' opens 4–6 inch star-shaped flowers that shift from peach to salmon, above olive-green pads mottled with burgundy. Hardy, not tropical — which means no lifting and storing tubers each autumn.
What you'll receive
- Young, freshly harvested water lily tubers — 1 tuber or 5 tubers, depending on the option selected.
- All of our water lily tubers/rhizomes are inspected before ship out and guaranteed viable and ready to grow in a proper pond environment.
- Photos are sample representations. Bloom color and size vary with sunlight, feeding and water temperature, and first-year plants often flower less than established ones.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
Plant details
- Common name
- Colorado Pink Hardy Water Lily
- Scientific name
- Nymphaea 'Colorado'
- Type
- Hardy water lily (tuber)
- Flower
- 4–6 in, peach to salmon, late spring through fall
- Spread
- 12–24 in
- Suits
- Ponds, container water gardens, or tanks 20 gallons and up
- Growth rate
- Fast
Care guide
- DifficultyBeginner
- LightFull sun. At least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for reliable blooming
- Water depth12 to 36 in above the crown
- Water65–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- SubstrateRequired. Heavy clay or loam in a planting container, not aquarium gravel
- FeedingRoot feeder. Aquatic plant tabs through the growing season
- PropagationRhizome division
At a glance
Grower's notes
- Hardy is the practical difference. Tropical lilies must be pulled and stored somewhere moist and frost-free each autumn. Colorado overwinters in place — lower the container to the deepest part of the pond so the crown sits below the ice line.
- Sun is the whole game. In under six hours of direct light you get leaves and few flowers, regardless of feeding.
- Plant in a container rather than loose pond soil. It keeps the tuber accessible for feeding and dividing, and stops it colonising the whole pond.
- Divide the rhizome in spring to propagate. Lift the container, cut the tuber into sections each with a growing point and roots, and repot. Water lilies do not spread by runners.
- Deadhead spent flowers and remove yellowing pads. Both push energy back into new blooms, and lilies stop flowering when the soil runs out — feed through the season.
- Indoors, trimming is the job. Colorado is a fast grower, so in a tank — 20 gallons is the sensible floor — the pads reach the surface and spread quickly, and want cutting back often so light still gets to anything planted beneath. Most people keep this one outdoors; indoor flowering happens only under very strong, sun-like light on a long daily cycle.
How it arrives
A sealed Vitro Culture® bag
Lab-grown plantlets in nutrient gel, free of snails, algae and pests.
- Keep it sealed at room temperature, out of direct sun, until you're ready to plant.
- Rinse off all the gel under lukewarm water. Left in the tank, it clouds the water and feeds algae.
- Split into small portions and plant with tweezers. Small portions spread faster than one big clump.
Normal: a little melt in the first weeks as underwater leaves replace the leaves grown in the lab.
Rooted plants in a net pot with rockwool
The most stable option, with roots already established.
- Rinse the plant under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or ease the plant out and gently tease away the rockwool. Either way works.
- For epiphytes like Anubias and Bucephalandra, keep the rhizome above the substrate or tie it to wood or rock.
Fresh-cut stems in a net pot with rockwool
Freshly cut stems without roots, held upright in a net pot for a quick setup.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant the pot as is, or remove the stems and plant them one by one, an inch or two deep.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight
Easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rinse the bunch under clean water.
- Place the bunch as is, or remove the foam and weight and plant each one separately.
- Give each plant room so light reaches the lower leaves.
Fresh-cut stems bundled with foam and a plant weight
Freshly cut stems without roots, ready to drop in.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Remove the foam and weight and plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, for the fullest look. You can also place the bunch as is.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
Loose, rooted plants
No pot or foam, so you can place them exactly where you want.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant the roots into the substrate.
- Trim any broken leaves; new growth follows once settled.
Loose, fresh-cut stems
Freshly cut stems without roots, for full flexibility.
- Rinse the stems under clean water.
- Plant stems one by one, an inch or two deep, with a little space between them.
- New roots usually form within a couple of weeks.
A bulb, ready to sprout
Bulbs ship either dormant or already sprouted with leaves, depending on the option you choose.
- Rinse the bulb under clean water.
- Rest it on the substrate or press the base in slightly. Don't bury the top.
- A dormant bulb can take a few weeks to send up its first leaves.
A young sprouted tuber
Ready to pot up and grow into a full plant.
- Pot it in a wide container of heavy garden soil, crown just above the soil.
- Start shallow and lower it deeper as the leaves grow.
- Give it full sun once the leaves reach the surface.
Attached to hardscape
Already growing on rock or wood, so it's ready to place.
- Rinse the piece under clean water.
- Place it anywhere in your layout. No planting needed.
- Keep the rhizome out of the substrate.
Packed fresh to travel well
- Open the box as soon as it arrives.
- Rinse the plants under clean water.
- Plant or place them the same day if you can.
Check your plants within 24 hours of delivery. That's your Live Arrival Guarantee window.
Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee
Live Arrival Guarantee
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.
Shipping Information
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.
FAQs
What is your return policy?
All sales are final, so we don’t accept returns or exchanges once your order ships.
The one exception: if your plants arrive dead or damaged, our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee covers a replacement, store credit or refund. Just email clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, within 24 hours of delivery.
Can you cancel my order?
We can only cancel your order if it hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the cancellation will be possible. Please reach out to us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
What is your shipping policy?
We ship your order as soon as possible. Most orders ship within 1–2 business days, except live animals and backordered items.
Shipping speed depends on the carrier; you can choose the shipping service at checkout.
View more at Shipping Information.
Can I change my shipping address?
We can only update your shipping address if the order hasn’t been fulfilled yet, and we can’t guarantee the change will be possible. Please contact us with the updated address as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to help.
How does “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” work?
Add 3 or more eligible plants from our Buy 2 Get 1 Free Collection to your cart to activate the automatic discount. Mix and match freely. For every 3 eligible plants, your lowest-priced eligible plants are free at checkout.
View the Buy 2 Get 1 Free Terms.
Would it be possible to hold my order?
Unfortunately, we’re unable to hold orders for live plants because of high demand and quick sell-outs. Please place your order when you’re ready for us to ship it promptly.
What is your Live Arrival Guarantee policy?
We offer a 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If your order arrives dead, email at least two clear photos of the plants in their original, unopened packaging and a photo of the shipping label within 24 hours of delivery. After 24 hours, conditions are out of our control.
View more at 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee Policy.
Are your plants free from pests, algae, and pesticides?
Our plants are very clean, but we can’t guarantee they will be 100% free of hitchhikers (snails, algae, pests), because we can’t be responsible for your aquarium. We recommend rinsing all plants with clean water and quarantining them before use.
Plants in our Tissue Culture collection are 100% free of pests and algae and have never been in contact with any aquarium.
We don’t guarantee our plants are free of pesticides. We use homemade, organic pesticides in our greenhouse to control pests, and never pesticides containing copper, which is toxic to invertebrates such as snails, crabs, and shrimp.
We don’t guarantee your aquarium’s success and aren’t responsible for its inhabitants, including but not limited to fish, shrimp, snails, and turtles. Please quarantine all plants before use!
Are your plants grown emersed or submerged?
It depends on the species. Most of our plants are grown hydroponically in a controlled-environment greenhouse.
Common stem plants such as Ludwigia, Bacopa, and Myriophyllum, and rheophyte/epiphyte plants (Anubias, Bucephalandra, Microsorum, Bolbitis, etc.) are grown emersed, hydroponically, in a controlled high-humidity environment.
True aquatic plants that can’t grow emersed — such as Vallisneria, Elodea, Najas, Cabomba, Potamogeton gayi, and Ceratophyllum demersum — are always cultivated submerged, underwater.
Should I remove the foam, weight, or pot before planting?
It’s totally up to you — we usually keep them as they are!
What’s the difference between fresh-cut, bare-root, and potted plants?
All options offer the same high quality; they differ in how they are prepared and packaged:
- Fresh-cut Plants: loose, freshly cut plants without roots. Great flexibility if you prefer to plant them your own way.
- Fresh-cut Bunched: freshly cut plants without roots, bundled with foam and a plant weight, ready to place in your aquarium.
- Fresh-cut Potted: freshly cut plants without roots, potted in a net pot with rockwool for stability and a quick setup.
- Bare-root Plants: loose, rooted plants you can position exactly where you want.
- Rooted Bunched: rooted plants bundled with foam and a plant weight — easy placement plus the stability of roots.
- Rooted Potted: rooted plants potted in a net pot with rockwool — maximum stability and a low-maintenance setup.
Choose based on your planting preference and your aquarium setup.
Noxious weed info
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.
Why Aquarium Plants Factory?
How we grow, clean and pack your Colorado Pink Hardy Water Lily.
Aquarium Plants Factory
Typical online shops
Customers praised these hardy water lilies for arriving healthy with roots and leaves, often blooming beautifully. One noted "it bloomed twice" indoors. Most found them "well priced" and quick to establish. Growth is fast with "floating leaves" appearing within weeks. Some tubers were small with only one leaf initially, but still healthy.
- It bloomed twice! It's a beautiful, elegant flower.
- I was even more happy to see roots and a lily pad growing on them.
- It looks very good and grows fast. After 2 weeks, it has floating leaves now.
Want to come back submitted another review. I bought my tuber last year Nov. and grew it in my indoor container garden. It bloomed twice! It's a beautiful, elegant flower, and somehow, I'm lucky enough to get an individual with shuffled petals!
Good tuber condition. It looks very good and grows fast. After 2 weeks, it has floating leaves now.
I ordered 3 Nymphaea Colorado water lilly tubers on 5/25, received on 6/2. Tubers arrived healthy with roots and little tiny leaves, I didn't plant them right away because I don't have a pot, soaked them in water for about a week. Planted them early June, they've been doing really well, got the first bloom today, really pretty! Highly recommend this seller.
I was very satisfied with my waterlily tubers ; they arrived on time and were packaged very well for protection. All 3 have small leaves coming out the top already .
i purchased a water lilly for my new pond...when it got it's first bloom, i was amazed and thought that wasit, but it has been getting new buds and flowers ever since....i am hoping it survives our cold Adirondack winter...if so, I will definitely be purchasing more....also when I emailed your company with a question, i was delighted that you got right back to me with the answer....thanks so much!
Plants looked great upon arrival. Can’t wait to see them grow!
I WAS VERY PLEASED HOW SECURE THE PLANTS WERE PACKAGED WITH CARE. I WAS EVEN MORE HAPPY TO SEE ROOTS AND A LILLY PAD GROWING ON THEM. THEY LOOK VERY HEALTHY AND I PLANTED THEM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING A LOT OF LILLY PADS IN MY POND.
Took advantage of sale, eas surprised at the size and health of plants
Plus the shipping was quick
A little small (only one leaf), but seems healthy. Maybe why the price was marked down.
They arrived in good shape and healthy! These took hold and got established pretty quickly.
The plants came quickly and they looked good. I planted them immediately- I hope they grow. This would be an even better review once they get established.
I bought these to start indoors early under grow lights before moving them out to the pond as I'm hoping for blooms the first season. They started putting up leaving immediately and are doing well so far. I wish they came with planting instructions but a quick Google solved that. Very happy considering the very reasonable price.
This was the 3rd order of water lily plants within one month.
I was very with the cost and the items. The rhizomes were very healthy with vital spouts.
Shipping was prompt. I definitely place more orders in the future.
Already have a good amount of lily pads, planted in May..will definitely purchase again!!
Arrived in excellent shape.
The plants arrive in very good condition . The communication through email very good quick responding la all my question . I will do more business with . Thank you
