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Flower Full Sun Frequent water

Waterlily

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Aquatic perennial for ponds and water features. A warmth-loving plant that does best between 18°C and 28°C, waterlily adapts well to tropical and subtropical conditions but cannot tolerate frost. Plant in a spot with full sun (6-8 hours of direct light daily) and provide frequent watering — it is a thirsty plant that dislikes dry soil. Expect blooms in approximately 90-180 days. An easy way to add dramatic colour to any garden, with minimal maintenance once established.

Harvest 90-180 days
Temp Range 5°C — 35°C

Quick Answer: How to Grow Waterlily

Waterlily takes 90-180 days to harvest. It grows best in 18–28°C with full sun and frequent watering. Waterlily is not frost tolerant — wait until after the last frost to plant. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Waterlily in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Full Sun
💧
Water
Frequent
❄️
Frost
Sensitive
📅
Harvest
90-180 days

Temperature Range

18-28°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 18–28°C Tolerates: 5–35°C
Tropical suitable: Yes
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Needs still, warm water and full sun. Plant in aquatic baskets. Wait until soil warms to at least 18°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 5°C to 35°C
  • Optimal growing: 18°C to 28°C
  • Harvest in 90-180 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Waterlily loves the heat! It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates year-round.
  • 🌱 Waterlily needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Waterlilies (Nymphaea spp.) require still or very slow-moving water with full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sunlight is essential for flowering. Hardy waterlilies (N. odorata, N. alba) tolerate water temperatures from 4–30°C; tropical species require minimum 21°C water temperature. Plant in heavy loam aquatic baskets (not normal potting compost which floats and clouds water) with the crown just visible at the soil surface. Weight baskets with stones before lowering. Place at the correct depth: most hardy varieties thrive at 30–60 cm water depth; pygmy types need only 15–20 cm. Fertilise with dedicated aquatic fertiliser tablets pushed into the soil every 4–6 weeks during the growing season. Tropical waterlilies produce flowers above the water surface and may be day- or night-blooming. Divide root-bound clumps every 2–3 years when foliage crowd the pond surface.

Common Pests & Problems

Waterlily aphids (Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae) cluster on leaves and buds, causing distortion; hose off with a forceful jet of water to wash aphids into the water where fish will consume them — do not use pesticides in pond environments. Waterlily beetle (Galerucella nymphaeae) larvae shred leaves creating distinctive transparent windows; again, hose off into water. China mark moth (Nymphula stagnata) larvae cut oval sections from leaves to construct cases; remove and destroy. Crown rot (Phytophthora) causes crowns to turn mushy and black; remove affected crowns, trim to healthy white tissue, and dust with sulfur before replanting in fresh aquatic compost. Overly deep planting causes poor flowering.

Harvest & Storage

Waterlily flowers are harvested for floral arrangements when the bloom is fully open — typically in the morning as many varieties close in the afternoon. Cut the stem as long as possible with clean scissors, pulling the stem from underwater at its base. To keep cut waterlily flowers open in arrangements, pour a small amount of wax (from a burning candle) into the centre of the open bloom — this prevents the petals from closing. Waterlily flowers last 3–4 days in a vase of water. Tropical varieties generally produce more dramatic cut flowers and hold open longer than hardy types.

Popular Varieties

Nymphaea 'Attraction' is a classic hardy waterlily with large, deep red blooms — one of the most reliable red varieties for temperate ponds, producing abundant flowers over a long season. 'Marliacea Chromatella' is the most popular yellow hardy waterlily, with soft primrose-yellow flowers and mottled purple-green leaves, extremely vigorous and floriferous. 'Perry's Baby Red' is a miniature hardy variety perfect for container water gardens, with small deep red flowers and a spread of just 60–90 cm. 'Dauben' (N. daubenyana) is the classic day-blooming tropical variety, with lavender-blue flowers and the ability to proliferate new plantlets from the centre of older leaves.

Where to Grow Waterlily

Waterlily can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍

Europe

80 cities
🌏

Asia

79 cities
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North America

78 cities
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Africa

39 cities
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South America

39 cities
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Oceania

19 cities
🕌

Middle East

16 cities

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
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Amsterdam, NL medium
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Ankara, TR medium
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Antalya, TR medium
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Athens, GR medium
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Barcelona, ES medium
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Bari, IT medium
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Belgrade, RS medium
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Bergen, NO medium
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Berlin, DE medium
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Bilbao, ES medium
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Bologna, IT medium
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Bordeaux, FR medium
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Bratislava, SK medium
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Brussels, BE medium
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Bucharest, RO medium
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Budapest, HU medium
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Catania, IT medium
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Cologne, DE medium
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Copenhagen, DK medium
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Corfu, GR medium
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Cork, IE medium
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Dublin, IE medium
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Dubrovnik, HR medium
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Edinburgh, GB medium
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Florence, IT medium
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Frankfurt, DE medium
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Gdansk, PL medium
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Genoa, IT medium
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Glasgow, GB medium
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Gothenburg, SE medium
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Hamburg, DE medium
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Helsinki, FI medium
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Heraklion, GR medium
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Istanbul, TR medium
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Izmir, TR medium
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Krakow, PL medium
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Kyiv, UA medium
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Limassol, CY medium
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Lisbon, PT medium
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Ljubljana, SI medium
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London, GB medium
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Lyon, FR medium
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Madrid, ES medium
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Malaga, ES medium
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Marseille, FR medium
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Milan, IT medium
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Munich, DE medium
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Naples, IT medium
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Nice, FR medium
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Nicosia, CY medium
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Oslo, NO medium
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Palermo, IT medium
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Paris, FR medium
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Porto, PT medium
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Poznan, PL medium
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Prague, CZ medium
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Reykjavik, IS medium
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Riga, LV medium
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Rome, IT medium
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Seville, ES medium
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Sofia, BG medium
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Split, HR medium
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Stockholm, SE medium
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Strasbourg, FR medium
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Stuttgart, DE medium
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Tallinn, EE medium
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Thessaloniki, GR medium
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Tirana, AL medium
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Toulouse, FR medium
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Turin, IT medium
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Turku, FI medium
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Valencia, ES medium
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Valletta, MT medium
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Verona, IT medium
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Vienna, AT medium
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Vilnius, LT medium
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Warsaw, PL medium
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Zagreb, HR medium
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Zurich, CH medium
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🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
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Almaty, KZ medium
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Bali, ID medium
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Bandung, ID medium
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Bangalore, IN medium
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Bangkok, TH medium
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Beijing, CN medium
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Busan, KR medium
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Cebu, PH medium
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Chandigarh, IN medium
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Chengdu, CN medium
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Chennai, IN medium
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Chiang Mai, TH medium
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Chittagong, BD medium
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Chongqing, CN medium
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Coimbatore, IN medium
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Colombo, LK medium
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Da Nang, VN medium
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Dalian, CN medium
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Davao, PH medium
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Delhi, IN medium
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Dhaka, BD medium
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Dharan, NP medium
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Fukuoka, JP medium
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Galle, LK medium
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Guangzhou, CN medium
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Hangzhou, CN medium
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Hanoi, VN medium
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Harbin, CN medium
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Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
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Hong Kong, HK medium
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Hyderabad, IN medium
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Incheon, KR medium
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Indore, IN medium
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Islamabad, PK medium
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Jaipur, IN medium
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Jakarta, ID medium
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Jeju, KR medium
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Johor Bahru, MY medium
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Karachi, PK medium
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Kathmandu, NP medium
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Kochi, IN medium
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Kolkata, IN medium
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Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
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Kunming, CN medium
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Kyoto, JP medium
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Lahore, PK medium
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Lucknow, IN medium
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Manila, PH medium
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Mumbai, IN medium
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Nagoya, JP medium
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Nanjing, CN medium
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Nha Trang, VN medium
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Okinawa, JP medium
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Osaka, JP medium
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Pattaya, TH medium
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Penang, MY medium
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Phnom Penh, KH medium
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Pune, IN medium
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Sapporo, JP medium
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Seoul, KR medium
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Shanghai, CN medium
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Shenzhen, CN medium
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Siem Reap, KH medium
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Singapore, SG medium
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Surabaya, ID medium
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Surat, IN medium
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Taipei, TW medium
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Tashkent, UZ medium
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Tbilisi, GE medium
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Tokyo, JP medium
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Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
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Varanasi, IN medium
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Vientiane, LA medium
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Visakhapatnam, IN medium
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Wuhan, CN medium
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Xi'an, CN medium
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Xiamen, CN medium
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Yangon, MM medium
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🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
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Anchorage, US medium
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Atlanta, US medium
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Austin, US medium
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Baltimore, US medium
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Baton Rouge, US medium
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Boise, US medium
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Boston, US medium
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Bridgetown, BB medium
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Buffalo, US medium
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Calgary, CA medium
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Cancun, MX medium
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Charleston, US medium
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Charlotte, US medium
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Chattanooga, US medium
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Chicago, US medium
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Denver, US medium
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Des Moines, US medium
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Detroit, US medium
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Edmonton, CA medium
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El Paso, US medium
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Fargo, US medium
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Fresno, US medium
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Guadalajara, MX medium
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Halifax, CA medium
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Hartford, US medium
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Havana, CU medium
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Honolulu, US medium
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Houston, US medium
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Jacksonville, US medium
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Kansas City, US medium
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Kingston, JM medium
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Knoxville, US medium
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Las Vegas, US medium
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Little Rock, US medium
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Los Angeles, US medium
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Louisville, US medium
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Lubbock, US medium
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Madison, US medium
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Memphis, US medium
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Mexico City, MX medium
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Miami, US medium
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Milwaukee, US medium
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Minneapolis, US medium
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Monterrey, MX medium
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Montreal, CA medium
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Nashville, US medium
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New Orleans, US medium
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New York, US medium
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Oaxaca, MX medium
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Oklahoma City, US medium
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Omaha, US medium
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Ottawa, CA medium
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Panama City, PA medium
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Phoenix, US medium
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Pittsburgh, US medium
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Portland, US medium
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Puebla, MX medium
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Quebec City, CA medium
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Raleigh, US medium
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Richmond, US medium
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Sacramento, US medium
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Salt Lake City, US medium
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San Diego, US medium
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San Francisco, US medium
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San Jose, CR medium
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Santo Domingo, DO medium
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Saskatoon, CA medium
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Savannah, US medium
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Seattle, US medium
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Spokane, US medium
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St. Louis, US medium
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Tampa, US medium
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Toronto, CA medium
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Tucson, US medium
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Vancouver, CA medium
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Victoria, CA medium
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Winnipeg, CA medium
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✓
✓

🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
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Accra, GH medium
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Addis Ababa, ET medium
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Algiers, DZ medium
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Antananarivo, MG medium
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Arusha, TZ medium
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Bamako, ML medium
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Bloemfontein, ZA medium
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Cairo, EG medium
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Cape Town, ZA medium
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Casablanca, MA medium
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Dakar, SN medium
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Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
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Douala, CM medium
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Durban, ZA medium
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Entebbe, UG medium
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Fez, MA medium
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Freetown, SL medium
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Harare, ZW medium
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Johannesburg, ZA medium
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Kampala, UG medium
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Kigali, RW medium
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Kinshasa, CD medium
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Lagos, NG medium
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Libreville, GA medium
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Lilongwe, MW medium
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Lome, TG medium
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Luanda, AO medium
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Lusaka, ZM medium
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Maputo, MZ medium
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Marrakech, MA medium
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Mombasa, KE medium
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Nairobi, KE medium
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Ouagadougou, BF medium
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Port Louis, MU medium
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Pretoria, ZA medium
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Tunis, TN medium
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Windhoek, NA medium
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Zanzibar, TZ medium
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🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
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Asuncion, PY medium
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Barranquilla, CO medium
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Belem, BR medium
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Bogota, CO medium
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Brasilia, BR medium
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Buenos Aires, AR medium
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Cali, CO medium
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Campinas, BR medium
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Caracas, VE medium
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Cartagena, CO medium
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Concepcion, CL medium
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Cordoba, AR medium
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Curitiba, BR medium
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Cusco, PE medium
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Fortaleza, BR medium
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Georgetown, GY medium
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Goiania, BR medium
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Guayaquil, EC medium
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La Paz, BO medium
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Lima, PE medium
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Manaus, BR medium
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Medellin, CO medium
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Mendoza, AR medium
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Montevideo, UY medium
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Paramaribo, SR medium
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Port of Spain, TT medium
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Porto Alegre, BR medium
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Quito, EC medium
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Recife, BR medium
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Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
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Rosario, AR medium
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Salvador, BR medium
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Santa Cruz, BO medium
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Santiago, CL medium
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Sao Paulo, BR medium
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Sucre, BO medium
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Trujillo, PE medium
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Valparaiso, CL medium
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🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
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Alice Springs, AU medium
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Auckland, NZ medium
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Brisbane, AU medium
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Cairns, AU medium
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Canberra, AU medium
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Christchurch, NZ medium
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Darwin, AU medium
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Dunedin, NZ medium
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Gold Coast, AU medium
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Hamilton, NZ medium
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Hobart, AU medium
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Melbourne, AU medium
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Noumea, NC medium
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Perth, AU medium
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Suva, FJ medium
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Sydney, AU medium
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Townsville, AU medium
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Wellington, NZ medium
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🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
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Amman, JO medium
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Baghdad, IQ medium
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Beirut, LB medium
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Doha, QA medium
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Dubai, AE medium
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Erbil, IQ medium
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Jeddah, SA medium
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Kuwait City, KW medium
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Manama, BH medium
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Muscat, OM medium
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Riyadh, SA medium
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Sana'a, YE medium
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Tabriz, IR medium
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Tehran, IR medium
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Tel Aviv, IL medium
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✓
✓

When should I plant waterlily in my city?

The best time to plant waterlily depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 18°C and 28°C. Wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow waterlily in winter?

Waterlily is not frost tolerant and cannot survive winter outdoors in most temperate climates. In tropical areas (USDA Zones 10+), it may grow year-round.

Get Waterlily Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Waterlily seeds and starter plants online.

Shop on Burpee Search on Amazon

People Also Search For

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Similar Growing Requirements

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Zucchini

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Frequently Asked Questions about Waterlily

When should I plant waterlily?

The best time to plant waterlily depends on your local climate. Waterlily grows best in temperatures between 18°C and 28°C (can tolerate 5°C to 35°C). Waterlily is not frost tolerant, so wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can waterlily grow in tropical climates?

Yes! Waterlily can grow in tropical climates. It's successfully grown in tropical cities like Abidjan, Abu Dhabi, Accra. Waterlily requires full sun and frequent watering.

How long does waterlily take to grow?

Waterlily typically takes 90-180 days from planting to harvest. It requires full sun and frequent watering. Needs still, warm water and full sun. Plant in aquatic baskets. Wait until soil warms to at least 18°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Find the Best Time to Plant Waterlily

See the planting calendar for Waterlily in these popular cities:

London, GBMumbai, INNew York, USParis, FRSingapore, SGSydney, AUTokyo, JPToronto, CA

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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