212 
GARDENING IN THE SOUTHWEST 
Tropical 
Water Lilies 
The Two 
Chief 
Varieties 
generally too delicate to survive even our mildest winters, and 
not being expensive, are too much trouble to attempt to keep, 
unless one has a very large indoor pool. Even then, it is usually 
more satisfactory to purchase new young plants rather than try 
to handle the mature old ones. Their spread is slightly greater 
than the hardy varieties (which require a radius of at least three 
feet of space for each plant). They are so lovely, standing several 
inches above the water on their stiff stalks, it would be a decided 
deprivation not to plan to include at least one in every water- 
garden. Their range of colors are exquisite—blues, pinks, white, 
reds and yellows, of wider choice than the hardy varieties, although 
these latter include all colors except blue. 
Where the temperature is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit and there 
is full sunshine, the day-blooming tropical Water Lilies remain 
open between seven in the morning and five or six in the after¬ 
noon, while the rarer night-bloomers open about eight in the 
evening, remaining lovely until the middle of the following morn¬ 
ing. When it is cloudy, or cooler and grey, often these two varie¬ 
ties reverse their usual habits. It is intensely interesting to note that 
both the temperature and the amount of sunlight have such defi¬ 
nite, material effects on these more tender Lilies. 
The initial planting of all Water Lilies may be made directly 
into the pool, when one has placed on the floor of it the layers of 
earth to receive them, leaving at least twelve to fourteen inches 
of water above the soil, which in turn should have a depth of 
at least sixteen to eighteen inches. Or they may be put in large 
earthen pots or wooden tubs, usually two to three feet in diame¬ 
ter, planted under xvater (not outside and submerged after¬ 
ward) , and sunk into gravel to hide the containers. 
This latter process enables one to transplant or divide them, 
especially when the pool is large, easier than when not thus re¬ 
stricted. In dividing roots, there are two types of growth; one, 
like bulbs, forms into 
multiple “crowns” 
(which can be pulled 
apart); the other sends 
