Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily – A Fragrant Purple Masterpiece

The Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily is one of the most extraordinary introductions to ever grace the hardy waterlily world — and one of the very few ISG (Intersubgeneric) Hardy × Tropical crosses truly worth having.

Developed by acclaimed hybridizer Zijun Li, this award-winning variety produces steady, fragrant, vivid purple blooms all summer long. Its flowers are held proudly above the water on strong stems and contrast beautifully with its rich, dark-green pads. Each flower is drenched in deep purple color with bright golden centers, creating a look that feels almost tropical — yet this remarkable lily is fully winter hardy from usda plant zone 6 and south to zone 12.

Gardeners love Detective Erika for its steady blooming, captivating fragrance, and the fact that it brings the rare purple color into hardy ponds — something long sought after by collectors and pond enthusiasts alike.

🌱 Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily Planting & Care

• Type: ISG (Hardy × Tropical cross) – Winter-hardy, but warm-water germination required

• Size: Large, vigorous grower; ideal for medium to large ponds

• Planting Depth: 5–15 inches from soil surface to water surface; shallower placement encourages earlier blooms

• Container Size: 16-inch wide aquatic fabric container minimum (larger preferred for mature plants)

• Soil: Heavy loam topsoil or PondGro Aquatic Planting Soil. Never use bagged compost, aquatic media, or stones.

• Sunlight Needs: Full sun, 6+ hours of strong, direct light daily for prolific blooming.

• Special Requirement: This variety emerges later than standard hardy lilies. Plant only when pond water at root level is at least 70°F — typically late spring or early summer.

💧 How to Fertilize Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily

• Fertilize with 4–6 Waterlily World Fertilizer Tablets on the 1st and 15th of each month, April through September.

• Press tablets 3–4 inches into the soil around the rhizome crown.

• Consistent feeding ensures strong flowering and healthy pads throughout the warm season.

🌼 Fragrance of Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily

Detective Erika is one of the few hardy water lilies with a noticeable, sweet fragrance — soft, floral, and reminiscent of tropical lilies. It perfumes the air around your pond on warm days, especially at midday when flowers are open wide.

✅ Do’s & ❌ Don’ts for Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily

✅ Do:

• Plant only after pond water reaches 70°F at root level.

• Provide full sun for rich color and continuous flowering.

• Use wide, shallow pots with heavy loam soil or plant directly into an earth-bottom pond.

• Fertilize on schedule for steady blooming all summer.

• Divide annually to keep the rhizome healthy and productive.

❌ Don’t:

• ❌ Don’t request early shipping — Detective Erika will only ship when temperatures are suitable for planting.

• ❌ Don’t let the plant dry out during unpacking — all parts (roots, stems, leaves) must stay wet.

• ❌ Don’t cover the crown with gravel or stones — this suffocates the plant.

• ❌ Don’t crowd with floating plants or other lilies; each plant needs open water surface and sun exposure.

• ❌ Don’t place in cold water — planting too early causes dormancy or stunted growth.

📦 Shipping Information for Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily

• Shipping Season: April through September, depending on regional temperatures.

• Spring Protocol: Ships only after local water temperatures consistently reach 70°F or warmer. Orders including Detective Erika are held until it’s safe to ship and plant.

• Method: Plants ship via 2–3 day service (usually UPS, occasionally USPS or FedEx).

• Schedule: Shipments go out at the start of each week to prevent weekend delays.

• Pre-Season Orders: Early spring orders are shipped first once weather allows, typically starting in late May.

• Tracking: You’ll receive an email with tracking details the day your plant ships.

Arrival Guarantee & Care:
Be prepared to plant immediately upon arrival. Do not let the roots or pads dry out — this variety must stay moist at all times. Minor shipping stress is normal and will resolve quickly once planted in warm water.

If there are any issues upon arrival, email PondQuestions@gmail.com within 24 hours. Include photos of the unpacked plant, the packing slip with initials, and any concerns.

🪷 Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily – Specifications

• Variety Name: Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily

• Hybridizer: Zijun Li (China)

• Type: Hardy × Tropical (ISG Hybrid)

• Flower Color: Deep, vivid purple with golden centers

• Fragrance: Sweet, floral, and noticeable

• Bloom Size: 5–7 inches across

• Pad Color: Rich dark green

• Spread: 4–6 feet across

• Planting Depth (from soil to water surface): 5–15 inches

• Container Size: 16 inches wide or larger recommended

• Sunlight: Full 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily

• Fertilizer Schedule: 4–6 tablets on the 1st and 15th of each month (April–September)

• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4–12 (winter-hardy once established)

• Shipped As: Shipped as a live pond plant (rhizome with starter leaves and roots).
  👉 Must be planted immediately into a proper aquatic fabric container or directly into an earth-bottom pond.
  👉 All plant parts — rhizome, crown, roots, and stems — must stay wet during unpacking and planting.

🌸 Why Choose Detective Erika Hardy Water Lily

Because it combines the best of both worlds — the vibrant color and fragrance of a tropical lily with the resilience of a hardy perennial. Detective Erika is one of the few hardy purple waterlilies that truly lives up to its reputation, rewarding you with steady, fragrant, vividly purple blooms all season long.

Once planted in warm water and full sun, it quickly becomes the star of any pond or water garden — elegant, rare, and unforgettable.