I am in zone 6 a similar plant zone as Rockville MD zone 7. As of Apr 19 I have numerous, new, small, hardy hybrid water lily leaves at the surface from older established lily bed rhizomes. The shallowest beach area with the most lilies has about 30 leaves 'up' whereas those lilies in the corners and in deeper water have about 16-20 leaves on the surface. I see numerous leaves subsurface. Normally when lilies go dormant in the fall there are a few new unfolded and small leaves subsurface that have not reached he surface. These leaves usually overwinter and are normally the first leaves to reach the surface the next spring. Subsurface dormant leaves that get eaten or destroyed during winter will often be replaced by ne leaves by the dormant alive roots when spring arrives. If lily rhizome roots are alive, one should see a least a few new leaves by the time the water reaches 60-65F.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 04/19/13 10:52 AM.
