Help me find a good small lily!

[Dominic]

I was wondering whether you guys knew of any very small lilies?

I am looking for a lily, and I do not want the leaves to be big, at all. Probably no bigger than an amazon frogbit plant? I do not want the light to be blocked out too much.

I was wondering whether you guys could recommend anything?

Cheers,
Dom

 

[harryH]

Hi Dom,
you could do as I do and use a Nymphaea Stellata and keep nipping the shoots off. That keeps it nice and compact. Once a leaf gets larger that you want just prune it off. I think you should not let it find the surface of the water. I usually take my shoots off when it is about half way to the surface and new shoots keep coming merrily away.
Worth mentioning I have mine partially restrained in a plastic aquatic plant pot as the root system can otherwise be massive.

Harry

 

[Dominic]

Thats a good idea, you got any pictures mate?

I'm just looking for a water lily that will reach the surface yet the leaves will stay small and wont block out much light?

 

[frothhelmet]

nymphaea micrantha is goregous and stayed relatively small for me as a lotus.

 

[Dominic]

that looks really good, do you have any pictures mate? What sort of size did the leaves grow to? (3 inches across?)

 

[harryH]

Thats a good idea, you got any pictures mate?

I've just pruned mine down to one leaf so not worth taking a pic right now. I'm in Hospital for an operation Monday so might be out of action a few days at least but I'll try and get a pic at some point and put it on here.
Harry.

 

[Dominic]

oh okay, hope everything goes well with the operation bud.

 

[Edvet]

I just got a Hydrocleys nymphoides for this:

Not easy to get though.

 

[Dominic]

that looks perfect- where did you get yours from? I'll have to scour the web for some

 

[Viv]

I bought one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321094536483 off of eBay for my pond so not sure how well it would do in an aquarium but it does have very small leaves - tiny compared to the other lily's. Left to itself it's only supposed to have a maximum spread of 50 cm so pruning should keep it contained. Might be worth a look anyway

Viv

 

[Dominic]

Thats fantastic viv, thanks! Is the Pygmaea Helvola a different species to Pygmaea rubra or is it just different flower colours etc?