Our Favorite Water Lilies for North Texas Ponds & Water Gardens
Explore beautiful hardy and tropical water lilies perfect for backyard ponds, container water gardens, and aquatic landscapes in North Texas.
Water lilies are one of the best ways to add color, shade, and life to your pond or water garden. At Shades of Green, we grow and select water lilies that perform well in the North Texas climate, including hardy lilies that return each year and tropical varieties with dramatic blooms. Browse some of our favorite water lilies below, featuring vibrant reds, soft pinks, sunny yellows, elegant whites, and unique color-changing varieties perfect for ponds of all sizes.
Charlie’s Choice
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Red-Pink Blend
Size: Small spread (2–4 ft)
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Small ponds & container water gardens
‘Charlie’s Choice’ is a compact hardy water lily perfect for small ponds and container water gardens, featuring 2–3 inch blooms that change from white to pink and bronze-red as they mature. Hybridized by renowned waterlily breeder Kirk Strawn in 1995, this unique variety was named in honor of water gardening pioneer Charles Thomas of Lilypons Water Gardens.
Red Sultan
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Deep Red
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Sunny ponds and classic red water lily color
‘Red Sultan’ is a hardy red water lily known for rich, jewel-toned blooms that stand out beautifully against floating green pads. It is a great choice for pond owners wanting a strong red flower with a classic water garden look.
Rembrant
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Red
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Full sun ponds and bold summer blooms
‘Rembrant’ is a hardy red water lily with vivid blooms that add strong color to the surface of a pond. Its floating foliage helps shade the water while the flowers bring a timeless, romantic look to water gardens.
Arc-en-ciel
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Soft Pink
Size: Small to medium spread
Leaf Color: Variegated green, cream, and pink foliage
Best For: Decorative ponds where foliage is just as important as flowers
‘Arc-en-ciel’ is loved for its uniquely variegated lily pads, often showing shades of green, cream, pink, and bronze. Its soft pink flowers are beautiful, but the colorful foliage makes this variety especially eye-catching even when it is not blooming.
Fabiola
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Pink
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Soft color and dependable pond performance
‘Fabiola’ is a graceful hardy pink water lily with soft, elegant blooms that bring a gentle color to the pond. Its green floating pads provide shade for the water while the flowers create a classic water garden feel.
Hollandia
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Pink
Size: Medium to large spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Larger ponds and showy pink blooms
‘Hollandia’ is a beautiful hardy pink water lily with full, showy blooms that make a strong statement in the pond. It is a great choice when you want a reliable lily with a lush, traditional water garden appearance.
Pink Beauty
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Pink
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Classic pink flowers in sunny ponds
‘Pink Beauty’ is a hardy water lily with soft pink flowers and a clean, classic look. Its floating green leaves help cool and shade the pond while the blooms add a cheerful splash of color.
Pink Sensation
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Bright Pink
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Bright pink blooms and reliable summer color
‘Pink Sensation’ is a hardy pink water lily with bright, cheerful blooms that stand out beautifully on the water. It is a dependable choice for adding color, texture, and shade to backyard ponds.
Colorado
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Peachy Pink
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage, often with bronze new growth
Best For: Warm peach-pink color and strong blooming
‘Colorado’ is a popular hardy water lily with warm peach-pink blooms that bring a tropical-looking color to a hardy plant. Its rounded flowers and attractive floating pads make it a favorite for sunny ponds.
Georgia Peach
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Peach
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Soft peach blooms and warm pond color
‘Georgia Peach’ is a hardy water lily with warm peach-toned flowers that add a soft, inviting look to the pond. Its floating green pads provide useful surface coverage while the blooms add a bright seasonal accent.
Mangala Ubol
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Peach to Apricot
Size: Medium to large spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Large, showy blooms with warm color
‘Mangala Ubol’ is a stunning hardy water lily known for large, full flowers in warm peach and apricot tones. It brings a lush, elegant look to the pond and is especially beautiful when planted where the blooms can be viewed up close.
Sunny Pink
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Pink
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Cheerful pink blooms in full sun ponds
‘Sunny Pink’ is a hardy water lily with bright pink blooms that bring a fresh, happy color to the pond. Its green pads help shade the water while the flowers add seasonal beauty throughout the warmer months.
Denver
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: White
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Clean white blooms and a classic pond look
‘Denver’ is a hardy white water lily with clean, bright blooms that bring a peaceful look to the water garden. Its simple white flowers pair beautifully with colorful lilies and help create a calm, balanced pond display.
White Dagan
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: White
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Bright white flowers and pond contrast
‘White Dagan’ is a hardy white water lily that adds crisp, bright color to sunny ponds. Its floating green foliage creates shade and structure while the white blooms offer a clean, elegant focal point.
Charlene Strawn
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Yellow
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Soft yellow color in sunny water gardens
‘Charlene Strawn’ is a hardy yellow water lily with cheerful blooms that brighten the pond surface. Its green pads help shade the water while the yellow flowers add a warm, sunny touch.
Chromatella
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Yellow
Size: Small to medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage, often mottled with bronze/purple tones
Best For: Smaller ponds and soft yellow blooms
‘Chromatella’ is a classic hardy yellow water lily with soft yellow flowers and attractive mottled foliage. It is a great choice for adding gentle color and interesting leaf texture to smaller or medium-sized ponds.
Helvola
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Yellow
Size: Miniature spread
Leaf Color: Small green pads, often speckled or mottled
Best For: Small ponds, bowls, and container water gardens
‘Helvola’ is a miniature hardy yellow water lily that is perfect for small ponds, patio bowls, and container water gardens. Its petite yellow flowers and small decorative pads make it one of the best choices for tight spaces.
Joey Tomocik
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Bright Yellow
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage
Best For: Strong yellow blooms and sunny ponds
‘Joey Tomocik’ is a hardy yellow water lily known for bright, sunny flowers that show up beautifully against the water. It is a strong choice for gardeners wanting dependable yellow blooms with classic green lily pads.
Wanvisa
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Changeable pink, peach, orange, and yellow tones
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green pads often marked with reddish-brown mottling
Best For: Unique color variation and collector-style ponds
‘Wanvisa’ is a striking hardy water lily famous for its unusual, changeable blooms that can show shades of pink, peach, orange, and yellow. Its patterned foliage and unpredictable flower coloring make it one of the most eye-catching lilies for a pond.
Siam Fantasy
Type: Hardy Water Lily
Flower Color: Changeable pink, peach, and yellow tones
Size: Medium spread
Leaf Color: Green foliage, often with decorative markings
Best For: Color-changing blooms and unique pond displays
‘Siam Fantasy’ is a beautiful changeable hardy water lily with blooms that can shift through warm shades of pink, peach, and yellow. It adds a unique, colorful look to the pond and pairs well with both classic white lilies and bold red varieties.
