Digging deeperPlant Library

Star Of Zanzibar Tropical Water Lily flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Waterlily

Description:

Tropical water lily with lavender-blue star-shaped flowers with gold centers; blooms from summer to winter; round green foliage mottled with purple; easy to care for; water lilies dislike moving water; annual in colder climates

Ornamental Features

Star Of Zanzibar Tropical Water Lily features showy fragrant lavender cup-shaped flowers with blue overtones and gold eyes at the ends of the stems from early summer to late fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive glossy round leaves remain green in color with distinctive purple spots throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Star Of Zanzibar Tropical Water Lily is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a low habit of growth, spreading atop the surface of the water. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Star Of Zanzibar Tropical Water Lily is ideally suited for growing in a pond, water garden or patio water container, and is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Water Gardens
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting
• Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Star Of Zanzibar Tropical Water Lily will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the water, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. As an aquatic plant, it requires a suitable water garden environment and will benefit from special planting and ongoing care practices; consult one of our in-store experts for further details and instructions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Star Of Zanzibar Tropical Water Lily is a fine choice for the water garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when grown in outdoor pots and containers, aquatic plants like this one will require a special growing environment that meets their requirement for consistent moisture.