Spread and size of hardy hybrid water lilies is similar to spread & size of trees. Some spread quickly; some stay small and some grow large. Know what size you are buying. Hardy hybrid lilies come in 4 sizes and associated water depth of growth. Dwarf, small, medium, and large. If you want slow spread and for them to stay shallow (2-3ft) buy dwarf and small rated varieties. Flowers are smaller on the smaller varieties. I prefer the small and medium spread lilies for average recreational - sportfish ponds. Large rated lilies do best in larger ponds and small lakes where there is lots of room to spread in the shallow areas.
Wild water lilies will easily over grow and escape the container. Their seeds and rhizome 'buds' will float around and easily grow in other places.
Note there are species of tropical water lilies that do not tolerate ponds that get ice cover.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 04/12/17 09:41 AM.
