Anantachai Hardy Water Lily — Striking Red with Light Centers

The Anantachai Hardy Water Lily is a medium-size hardy water lily from Thailand with deep red outer petals that transition to a lighter, glowing center—a dramatic “halo” effect that looks incredible on the water. Flowers are 4–5", neatly formed, and open reliably from late spring into fall. With clean green pads, a steady bloom habit, and simple care, Anantachai is a superb perennial pond plant for any water garden.

Why Customers Love It

• Distinct two-tone red blooms (dark outer petals, lighter center)

• Steady bloomer in full sun when fed on schedule

• Container-friendly: thrives in wide, shallow pots

• Hardy & dependable—returns each year with minimal fuss

Plant Requirements (quick reference)

• Sun: Full sun, 6+ hours of strong midday light

• Container: 14–15"+ wide, shallow aquatic container (fabric pots preferred)

• Depth (soil surface → water surface): 6–14" (shallower = more flowers)

• Spread: ~3–4 ft at maturity (medium habit)

• Soil: Heavy loam topsoil only (no bagged mix, peat, or gravel)

Care & Fertilizing (simple schedule)

• Fertilizer tablets: 4–6 tablets on the 1st & 15th of each month (May–September)

• Application: Push tablets 3–4" into the soil around (not on) the crown

• Maintenance: Trim spent blooms/yellow leaves; divide every 1–2 years to maintain peak flowering

Water Lily Planting Tips

• Plant shallower (6–10") to warm the crown and jump-start buds

• Keep surface water open—remove floaters so pads get direct sun

• Never cover the crown with stones or gravel; leave it slightly exposed

• Use wide, shallow containers to encourage rhizome run and more flowers

Do’s & Don’ts

Do

• Plant in full sun and heavy loam

• Fertilize twice monthly for continuous blooms

• Repot immediately on arrival; keep all parts wet while planting

Don’t

• ❌ Don’t use compost/peat mixes, “aquatic media,” or gravel (they float, rot, or smother crowns)

• ❌ Don’t let floating plants shade Anantachai—light drives flowering

• ❌ Don’t plant too deep (>14") if you want frequent blooms

Helpful Links 

• Full Planting Instructions →

• Waterlily World® Fertilizer Tablets →

• PondGro™ Aquatic Loam Soil →

• Aquatic Containers →

• PondGro™ Fabric Pots →

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Shipped as: a live young adult plant (rhizome with leaves/lilypads). Plant immediately in heavy loam soil and set at the recommended depth. Minor leaf yellowing from transit is normal and quickly replaced by new growth.