Nymphaea 'Charles de Meurville'

Nymphaea 'Charles de Meurville' is one of Joseph Bory Marliac's large-growing hardy cultivars, producing substantial flowers in a rich wine-red to deep rose-pink with a notable sweet fragrance that sets it apart from many other red cultivars. Blooms are cup-shaped, with numerous petals and prominent golden-yellow stamens, held on strong peduncles above broad, dark-green floating pads. The plant flowers reliably throughout summer and develops into a truly impressive specimen over several seasons.

As one of the more vigorous red cultivars, 'Charles de Meurville' demands space — it is best reserved for medium to large ponds where it can spread without competing with neighbouring plants. It is fully cold-hardy and long-lived, with established clumps becoming increasingly floriferous as the rhizome matures and expands.

For pond owners seeking a fragrant red water lily with classic Marliac breeding credentials, 'Charles de Meurville' remains an excellent and underappreciated choice.

Light: Full sun — minimum 6 hours direct sunlight essential for reliable flowering. CO2: Not required. Fertilisation: Generous aquatic fertiliser tabs at planting and mid-season in a large planting basket. Placement: Large ponds at 50–100 cm depth; requires substantial container and ample water surface area. Propagation: Divide large rhizomes every 4–5 years in spring to maintain vigour.