Nymphaea Wanvisa | Red Hardy Water Lily

Want a water lily no one else has? Nymphaea 'Wanvisa' is a variegated hybrid — pink-red petals flecked and striped with yellow, white or peach, in a pattern that changes from bloom to bloom. No two flowers are alike, and nothing about it reads like a solid-colored lily. An award-winning hardy hybrid from Dr. Nopchai Charnsilp in Thailand, and one of the most collected lilies in the hobby.

Usually grown outdoors, but not only outdoors. Leaf spread reaches 3–5 feet and it needs 12–24 inches of water above the crown, so ponds and large container water gardens suit it best. It will also grow indoors in a tank of 20 gallons and up — but flowering there takes very high, sun-like light over a long daily photoperiod, and the pads grow fast enough to need trimming often.

What You'll Receive

Sold as bare-root rhizome ready to plant:

• Sold as one live tuber with a new young leaf to ensure viability and active growth.
• Professionally prepared and inspected for quality before shipping

Plant Profile

• Common name — Wanvisa Red Hardy Water Lily
• Scientific name — Nymphaea 'Wanvisa'
• Origin — Thailand, introduced by Dr. Nopchai Charnsilp in 2010
• Bloom — 4–6 in across, pink-red with yellow, white or peach variegation
• Leaf spread — 3–5 ft
• Suits — Ponds, container water gardens, or tanks 20 gallons and up
• Hardiness — USDA Zones 3–11

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Full sun, 6+ hours daily. Essential for color and repeat flowering
• CO₂ — Not required
• Water — 65–80°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Water depth — 12–24 in above the crown
• Substrate — Required. Heavy garden soil or clay, never potting mix
• Growth habit — Fully aquatic. Cannot be grown emersed
• Propagation — Rhizome division
• Blooming — June through September, dormant in winter

Planting a Hardy Lily

• Plant in a wide, shallow container rather than the pond bed — hardy rhizomes grow horizontally, and a pot makes seasonal care and relocation far easier.
• Set the rhizome at a 45° angle near the edge of the pot, with the crown left exposed.
• Use heavy garden soil with 2–4 fertilizer tablets, then top with 1–2 inches of pea gravel or sand to stop the soil floating. Keep gravel clear of the crown.
• Start with 6 inches of water above the soil and lower the pot to 12–18 inches as the plant matures.
• Plant in early spring. Fertilize every 3–4 weeks through the growing season and remove yellowing leaves and spent blooms.

Step-by-step with photos: How to Plant a Water Lily Tuber.

Grower's Notes

• Never bury the crown. This is the single rule that decides whether a lily thrives or rots.
• Light decides whether you get flowers. Outdoors that means full sun. Indoors it means a strong light run for a long day — under anything less the plant lives and pushes pads but rarely blooms, which is the most common disappointment with lilies.
• Trim the pads. Leaves come fast and a mature plant will cover the surface and shade everything beneath it. Cutting older pads at the base keeps light in the tank and pushes the plant to flower rather than sprawl.
• Expect the pattern to change. One plant can throw pink-red, yellow, white and peach markings across a season, shifting with temperature and light. That unpredictability is the point of growing Wanvisa — but it means no single photo represents every bloom.
• Divide the rhizome to propagate. Lift an established plant in spring and cut the rhizome into sections, each with a growing point and roots. Water lilies do not spread by runners.
• It goes dormant over winter and returns in spring. A bare pot in January is normal, not a dead plant.

Too large for your setup? Nymphaea Pygmaea Helvola is the smallest hardy lily we carry and suits patio tubs and small ponds.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Nymphaea Water Lily Care Guide.

Notes

• Bloom color and variegation may vary depending on lighting, water temperature, and fertilization. Allow the plant time to establish before expecting consistent blooming patterns.
• 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.