Nymphaea violacea – Blue Lily
This floating perennial herb with magnificent blue-violet blooms is native to northern Australia, growing in billabongs and rivers. The plant grows from a rhizome in the muddy bottom of the water body, with floating leaves and delicately scented flowers borne from late summer to winter in its natural environment. The plant can be cultivated from the rhizome, planted in a pot of rich organic matter and submerged in water 30 – 60cm deep. Cover the soil with a layer of gravel to stabilise. The pond should be at least 1 square metre to maintain water quality and contain some oxygenating plants.
The blue lily is a staple food for Aboriginal people in northern Australia, most parts of the plant are eaten.
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- Nymphaea violacea – blue waterlily
Picture provided by Philip Clarke, from his new book Discovering Aboriginal Plant Use: Journeys of an Australian Anthropologist
| Family: | Nymphaeaceae |
| Scientific Name: | Nymphaea violacea |
| Common Name: | Blue Lily |
| Plant Type: | Aquatic |
| Height: | metres |
| Width: | 1 metre |
| Flower Colour: | Blue, Purple |
| Flowering Time: | Summer, Autumn, Winter |
| Ph Level: | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Type: | Loamy |
| Plant Environment: | Container growing, Flower garden |
| Climate Zone: | Sub-tropical |
| Light: | Sunny, Light shade |
| Planting Season: | Spring |
| Growth Habit: | Evergreen, Spreading |
| Lifespan: | Annual, Perennial |
| Soil Moisture: | Boggy poorly drained |
| Propagation Method: | Division |
| Frost Tolerance: | Not frost tolerant |
| Plant Usage: | Wow factor |
| Special Features: | Edible, Cut flower, Bog gardens |
| Attracts Wildlife: | Butterflies, Other insects |
The information provided on the Gardening With Angus website is provided for general educational purposes about a variety of Australian plants. We recommend you seek further advice from qualified professionals regarding your own individual circumstances. Further disclaimer information>>
WHERE TO GET YOUR PLANT
Once you have found the plant that looks right for you, the next step is where to buy it.
Most nurseries stock a good range of plants, but due to space and supplies, they may not always have the plant that you are searching for in stock. If they don’t, they may be able to order it in for you if you request it.
Specialist nurseries are also able to give great advice, and if they don’t have the plant you have planned on, they can often suggest alternatives that will also work well for you.
Below is a list of our favourite specialist nurseries. Click on the links for their details-
The Wildflower Place Erina – NSW
Newcastle Wildflower Nursery – NSW
Harvest Seeds And Native Plant Nursery – Sydney – NSW
Native Grace Nursery – Robertson NSW
Wariapendi Nursery – Colo Vale NSW
Sydney Wildflower Nursery – NSW
Geelong Native Plants – Victoria
Wimmera Native Nursery – Victoria
Forest Heart eco-Nursery – Maleny Queensland
Natives R Us – Traveston – Queensland
Manuka Native Nursery – South Australia
MAIL ORDER NURSERIES –
Angus recommends Bush Tucker fertiliser for native plants.