Aquatic Plant Articles

N. ‘Southern Charm’
Voted Second Place In People's Choice Award Water Lily Competition

Each year the International Water Lily and Water Gardeners Association hold a competition for the best new water lily hybrid. Entrees are sent from around the world to compete in this prestigious competition. The competition takes place in a different location each year.

This year the competition was held at Sara P. Duke gardens in Durham, N. Carolina. All the competitors sent their best new water lily hybrids to the gardens in May of this year. The plants were potted and grown by John K Wyman and his staff at the gardens. After the plants matured they were judged by visitors to the gardens as well as voting on line by looking at the photos displayed. More than 800 votes were cast with N. ‘Southern Charm’ taking second place.   

Click on http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/waterlilies_winners.htm to see the official results.

N. ‘Southern Charm’ is a tropical day blooming water lily with a unique smoky blue flower. The pads are attractively mottled with maroon streaks across a dark green background. N. ‘Southern Charm’ is a fast grower and a prolific bloomer most days having more than one flower open. N. ‘Southern Charm’ was hybridized by Florida Aquatic Nursery several years ago but only released to the trade last year. We sent it to the annual competition and we were pleasantly surprised to have such and honor placed on it. This award will add to the list of awards Florida Aquatic Nurseries has accumulated with its new water lily hybrids over the years.