Nymphaea Colorata | Violet-Blue Tropical Water Lily

The parent of a great many blue lilies. Nymphaea colorata is a true species rather than a hybrid, and it sits behind much of the blue and violet tropical breeding you see today. It carries star-shaped violet-blue flowers 4–6 inches across, blooms prolifically from late spring through fall, and stays compact enough for a modest pond.

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 — Colorata Blue Water Lily
• Scientific name — Nymphaea colorata
• Type — Tropical water lily, day-blooming
• Flower — Violet-blue, star-shaped, 4–6 inches across, lightly fragrant
• Foliage — Rounded, bright green pads
• Bloom season — Late spring through fall; prolific
• Placement — Ponds, container water gardens and large containers, or tanks 20 gallons and up

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Sunlight — Full sun; at least 6 hours of direct sun for good flowering
• Water depth — 12 to 36 inches over the crown
• Substrate — Heavy clay or loam in a container, placed on the pond bottom or a shelf
• Planting angle — Tropical tuber: straight up at 90°, crown level with the soil
• Feeding — Aquatic fertilizer tablets through the growing season
• Overwintering — Tropical. Lift the plant in cold climates and store it warm and frost-free until spring
• Propagation — Tuber division

Grower's Notes

• A species, not a hybrid — which matters if you want to propagate. Species lilies come true from seed in a way named cultivars do not. N. colorata is also one of the parents behind much of the blue tropical breeding on the market, so this is the original rather than a derivative.
• Compact for a tropical. At 4–6 inch blooms it suits a smaller pond or a half-barrel where the large hybrids would swamp the surface.
• Free-flowering over a long season, from late spring right through autumn in warm conditions.
• Attracts bees and dragonflies, which is worth having in a pond you want balanced.
• Plant into heavy clay in a container, never loose potting mix — light media float out and cloud the water.
• The compact size makes it the more workable choice for an indoor tank. Twenty gallons is the sensible floor, though most owners still grow it outdoors. Flowering inside takes very intense, sun-equivalent light over a long daily photoperiod; under ordinary aquarium lighting it makes pads instead of blooms. Trim those pads regularly or they shade out everything planted below.

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 yellowing pads and spent flowers as they appear to keep the water clean and push energy into new growth.
• 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.