Darwin Waterlily (Nymphaea ‘Darwin’)

Darwin Waterlily (Nymphaea ‘Darwin’)

A large flowering pink waterlily with stunning double blooms that last into autumn, perfect for large ponds, lakes and natural swimming ponds.

Darwin Waterlily (Nymphaea ‘Darwin’), sometimes known as Hollandia, is a superb large growing variety that delivers impressive flowers, extended seasonal interest and excellent pond coverage. Designed for larger ponds and lakes, this waterlily is ideal for those looking to create a bold, natural and well balanced aquatic environment.

This variety produces large, double, peony style blooms in soft to rich pink tones. The flowers are full and layered, giving them a luxurious appearance that stands out beautifully against the water surface. One of its biggest advantages is its extended flowering period, starting in early summer and continuing right through to October, providing colour long after many other waterlilies have finished.

The foliage is equally impressive. The rounded leaves emerge with a bronze tint before maturing into a deep green, creating a lush and natural look. These large floating leaves spread widely across the water surface, providing excellent shading. This helps reduce sunlight penetration, limiting algae growth and stabilising water temperature, which is essential for maintaining a healthy pond.

With a spread of around 100 cm to 150 cm, Darwin is best suited to large ponds, lakes and natural swimming ponds. Its vigorous growth makes it highly effective for covering larger surface areas, helping to achieve the ideal two thirds summer coverage that supports both water quality and wildlife.

Darwin thrives in still water and performs best in full sun, where it produces the most abundant blooms. It is also highly beneficial for wildlife, offering shelter for fish, resting spots for insects and shaded areas for amphibians.

Fully hardy in UK conditions, this waterlily will return year after year with minimal maintenance. Its combination of size, long flowering period and strong performance makes it a top choice for larger pond projects.

If you are looking for a waterlily that delivers scale, colour and long lasting impact, Darwin is an outstanding option.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

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Key Benefits

• Large double pink flowers with strong visual impact
• Extended flowering period into autumn
• Excellent surface coverage for large ponds
• Helps reduce algae by shading the water
• Attractive foliage with bronze to green transition
• Ideal for lakes and natural swimming ponds
• Supports pollinators and pond wildlife
• Reliable and vigorous growth

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Reasons to Buy

• One of the best large waterlilies for extended flowering
• Perfect for large ponds and landscaping projects
• Adds elegance and scale to water features
• Improves pond balance and water clarity
• Long lasting and low maintenance

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Care Instructions

• Place the planted basket into the pond with leaves resting on the surface
• Gradually lower to the recommended depth as it establishes
• Position in full sun for best flowering
• Avoid strong currents or splashing water
• Remove yellowing leaves and spent flowers regularly
• Divide every few years if the plant becomes overcrowded

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Flowering Period

June to October

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Darwin Waterlily will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm
• 10 Litre Square Basket – 29 × 29 × 19cm
• 30 Litre Square Basket – 40 × 40 × 28cm

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

Water lily: This Nymphaea is part of our UK-grown water lily collection.

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Similar pond plants

For another pond-edge planting option, compare Wanvisa Waterlily (Nymphaea ‘Wanvisa’) and Gladstoniana Waterlily (Nymphaea ‘Gladstoniana’). Browse the full water lily collection for more colours, sizes and planting options.

Explore more waterlilies or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.