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Feb 21, 2015 4:06 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Betsy
Texas (Zone 9a)
In the beginning GOD created ...
Amaryllis Region: Florida Hummingbirder Irises Lilies Master Gardener: Texas
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Last year we went to Puerto Rico for business and this was in front of our hotel:

Thumb of 2015-02-21/piksihk/68f5d5

Can you help id these plants? Don't know anything about pond plants.
Image
Feb 21, 2015 5:13 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Paul Anguiano
Richland, WA (Zone 7a)
GW & DG: tropicalaria
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Garden Photography
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Most of these are tropical water lilies. Although I could hazard some guesses as to variety, there are many look-a-likes and I couldn't identify with any certainty without closer views of leaf, root, and flower morphology. I see at least three different varieties, though, based on leaf and flower type. If you were looking for one like these, we could certainly point you to specific varieties.

The leaves in the top third of the photo with upturned edges ("rims") are of Victoria cruziana, one of the monarchs of the water lily family, and a huge, beautiful annual in places they are known to thrive. They can be a bit picky in cultivation outside the tropics, though.
Mid-Columbia Gardens
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Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.


Last edited by psa Feb 21, 2015 5:15 PM Icon for preview
Avatar for piksihk
Feb 22, 2015 5:02 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Betsy
Texas (Zone 9a)
In the beginning GOD created ...
Amaryllis Region: Florida Hummingbirder Irises Lilies Master Gardener: Texas
Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Texas Plant and/or Seed Trader Daylilies Cottage Gardener Container Gardener
Thanks, Paul, for the id of the Victoria c. - not seen anything like that - now I can tell others what it is if every asked Smiling
Avatar for BonnieGardens
Apr 18, 2015 9:00 AM CST
Name: Bonnie Davis
Clermont, Fl. (Zone 9a)
Anyone know where you can order those Victorian water lilies? I think they are fascinating.

Bonnie
Image
Apr 18, 2015 7:54 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Paul Anguiano
Richland, WA (Zone 7a)
GW & DG: tropicalaria
Forum moderator Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages Garden Photography
Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Organic Gardener Greenhouse Native Plants and Wildflowers Herbs
Start with http://www.victoria-adventure....

That site hasn't been updated, really, in around five years, so the sources given there may or may not be useful. Seeds are hard to come by from resellers because they have to be kept in particular conditions (i.e. wet and between a certain temperature range) and because success rates are so low, especially for beginners. Survival of shipped plants can be hit and miss. I'm told that you're in the right part of the country to make it grow, though. If after reading the material at the above site you still want to give it a go, I can probably dig you up some direct sources to try.

A much easier to grow alternative for monster water lilies is Euryale Ferox, http://garden.org/thread/go/16..., also mentioned on that site, but very spiky and without the stately upturned edges.
Mid-Columbia Gardens
Geodesic Greenhouse
Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.


Image
Apr 21, 2015 8:25 AM CST
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
I'd love to have tropical water lilies here, but 1: I don't have a pond and 2: they won't survive the winters here. Don't know how to keep 'm dormant if that's possible either.
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