Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily

Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily – A Perennial Favorite with Endless Blooms

The Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily is a celebrated classic — admired worldwide for its creamy, peach-to-apricot flowers that glow with warmth and refinement. Each blossom opens perfectly, displaying layers of delicately shaded petals that transition from buttery yellow at the base to soft apricot and peach tones near the tips.

This variety is known for its exceptional reliability and heavy blooming habit. A single healthy Clyde Ikins plant can produce new flowers almost daily from early summer through frost, gracing your pond with a continuous display of color. The blooms float elegantly among olive-green pads, filling the water’s surface with light, motion, and timeless beauty.

For over 50 years, Clyde Ikins has been one of the most recommended hardy waterlilies for both home gardeners and collectors — a symbol of performance, grace, and enduring charm.

Planting & Care Instructions

• Plant Size: Medium-to-large hardy waterlily

• Spread: 4–6 feet across

• Suggested Container: 15–20 inch wide aquatic fabric container, or plant directly into a natural earth-bottom pond

• Planting Depth (from soil to water surface): 8–24 inches; shallower (8–14 inches) encourages earlier blooms

• Soil: Use heavy loam topsoil or PondGro Aquatic Loam Soil. Avoid compost, peat, or aquatic planting media that float or rot underwater.

• Sunlight Needs: Full sun — 6+ hours of direct, strong sunlight daily

• Water Conditions: Calm or still water preferred; avoid fountains or aeration that may splash on pads.

Fertilizing Schedule

• Fertilize on the 1st and 15th of each month during the growing season (May–September).

• Insert 4–6 Waterlily World Fertilizer Tablets 3–4 inches deep around the rhizome crown.

• Consistent fertilizing encourages nonstop flowering, lush foliage, and vibrant color.

Fragrance

The Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily has a gentle, sweet fragrance, especially noticeable in the midday sun. Its aroma perfectly complements its soft color palette and serene presence on the water.

Water Lily Planting Tips

💡 Plant shallower in the pond (8–14 inches deep) for faster flowering and warmer root temperatures.
💡 Use large, wide pots (15 inches or larger) to allow the rhizomes to expand and produce more blooms.
💡 Remove yellow leaves and spent flowers regularly to keep the plant healthy and blooming.
💡 Divide every 2 years to refresh growth and maintain strong flowering.
💡 Ensure the pond receives full sun — this is key to Clyde Ikins’ continuous bloom cycle.

Do’s & Don’ts

Do

• Plant in full, direct sunlight for strong color and continuous blooms.

• Use heavy loam soil for root support and nutrient absorption.

• Fertilize regularly on schedule for best results.

• Divide every 1–2 years to maintain peak performance.

• Keep the crown slightly above the soil line when planting.

Don’t

• ❌ Don’t use gravel, bagged compost, or lightweight soils — they float and smother roots.

• ❌ Don’t bury the crown — this can prevent new leaves from emerging.

• ❌ Don’t crowd with floating plants or other lilies — open water ensures sunlight reaches the pads.

• ❌ Don’t plant too deep (>24 inches), as it reduces blooming.

• ❌ Don’t allow the rhizome to dry out before planting.

Shipping Information

• Shipping Window: April through September across the continental USA

• Spring Schedule: Ships according to our posted planting calendar, timed for your region’s safe planting window (northern orders ship later).

• Weekly Shipments: After spring begins, plants ship weekly through summer, usually until or through September.

• Method: 2–3 day service (usually UPS); occasionally USPS or FedEx, depending on location.

• Schedule: Orders ship early each week to prevent weekend delays.

• Tracking: Customers receive an email with tracking details the day their order ships.

Arrival & Guarantee:

• Shipped as a live pond plant (rhizome with starter growth).

• Must be repotted immediately in heavy loam soil or planted directly into an earth-bottom pond.

• Keep all parts (rhizome, crown, roots, and leaves) wet during unpacking and planting.

• Minor leaf bending or yellowing is normal and quickly replaced by new growth.

• For any concerns, email photos within 24 hours (unpacked plant + packing slip with initials) to PondQuestions@gmail.com.

Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily – Specifications

About the Variety – Clyde Ikins

The Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily was named after the legendary hybridizer himself, who dedicated his life to creating high-performing waterlilies that thrive in a variety of climates. This cultivar is one of his crowning achievements — admired for its warm pastel tones, strong fragrance, and constant flowering.

It’s a heavy feeder and a vigorous grower, producing bloom after bloom even in less-than-perfect conditions. Few lilies rival Clyde Ikins for its blend of beauty and reliability, making it a staple in ponds across the United States and beyond.

Benefits of Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily

• 🌸 Constant bloomer — flowers nearly every day in warm months.

• 🌞 Peach-apricot flowers add soft warmth and classic elegance.

• 🌿 Hardy and vigorous, adaptable to many pond types.

• 💧 Fragrant and dependable, thriving in full sun.

• 🪷 Perfect choice for beginners or collectors alike — proven performer for decades.

Why Gardeners Love This Variety

Clyde Ikins Hardy Water Lily is a true garden workhorse with the elegance of a classic. Its consistent blooming, creamy-peach flowers, and soft fragrance make it one of the most rewarding hardy lilies ever created.

Gardeners love that it’s both reliable and refined — a lily that asks for little but gives endlessly in return. Whether in a backyard pond or a grand water feature, Clyde Ikins adds year-round grace and dependable performance that’s simply unmatched.