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Nymphaea 'Attraction' (Attraction Hardy Waterlily) care

Nymphaea 'Attraction'

Also called Attraction Hardy Waterlily.

RHS H5USDA 3-11Mildly toxic to petsIndoor Spread 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) of surface coverage

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Permanently submerged; maintain pond level, top up in summer heat

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Heavy clay loam aquatic compost

Humidity

Ambient (aquatic)

Temp

15-30°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

Spread 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) of surface coverage

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Full sun is essential; aim for at least 6 hours of direct light daily. Fewer than 5-6 hours sharply reduces flowering and forces leggy leaf growth. Tolerates partial shade but blooms suffer. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for nymphaea 'attraction' — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering nymphaea 'attraction': permanently submerged; maintain pond level, top up in summer heat. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. An aquatic perennial grown in still or very slow-moving water 45-75 cm (18-30 in) deep over the crown. Avoid fountain spray or splash on the pads. Top up evaporation in hot spells to keep planting depth stable.

Soil and pot

Nymphaea 'Attraction' grows best in heavy clay loam aquatic compost. Plant the rhizome in a wide mesh aquatic basket of heavy garden loam or proprietary aquatic compost, topped with washed gravel to stop fish stirring it. Never use peat or general potting mix, which floats and fouls the water. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Nymphaea 'Attraction' sits happiest at around Ambient (aquatic) humidity and 15-30°C (59-86°F). Not relevant as a humidity figure - the plant is rooted underwater with floating foliage. Surrounding air humidity has no bearing on culture; water depth and quality are what matter. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed nymphaea 'attraction' sparingly. Feed monthly through the growing season (late spring to late summer) with aquatic plant fertiliser tablets pushed into the basket near the roots. Do not broadcast soluble feed into open water - it fuels algae blooms. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on nymphaea 'attraction' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • No flowers / all leaf — Almost always too little sun or planting too deep. Move to 6+ hours of direct light and confirm crown sits at the recommended 45-75 cm, not deeper.
  • Aphids on pads — Waterlily aphids cluster on emergent leaves and buds. Hose them into the water for fish to eat, or submerge affected pads briefly; avoid oil-based sprays that coat and suffocate foliage.
  • China-mark moth / leaf-cutting — Caterpillars cut oval sections from pads and shelter inside folded leaf pieces. Pick off affected leaves by hand; severe in still, warm ponds late summer.
  • Yellowing, crowded pads — Congested rhizomes and exhausted compost cause small pale leaves and fewer blooms. Lift and divide every 3-4 years in late spring, replanting a vigorous growing tip in fresh aquatic loam.

Propagation

Divide the rhizome in late spring as growth restarts. Lift the basket, cut firm sections each bearing a growing eye and some root, and replant in fresh aquatic loam topped with gravel. Named cultivars do not come true from seed, so division is the only reliable method. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Nymphaea 'Attraction' is mildly toxic to pets. Nymphaea is not individually listed by the ASPCA toxic/non-toxic database; the dangerous ASPCA 'lily' entries refer to Lilium and Hemerocallis, which are botanically unrelated. Because Nymphaea is unconfirmed and anecdotal GI upset (vomiting, drooling, lethargy) has been reported in pets that chew foliage, treat with caution and verify with a vet before assuming it is safe. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Nymphaea 'Attraction' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Nymphaea 'Attraction'?

Nymphaea 'Attraction' is most commonly called Nymphaea 'Attraction', but it is also known as Attraction Hardy Waterlily. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Nymphaea 'Attraction' apply identically to anything sold as Attraction Hardy Waterlily.

How much light does nymphaea 'attraction' need?

Nymphaea 'Attraction' grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Full sun is essential; aim for at least 6 hours of direct light daily. Fewer than 5-6 hours sharply reduces flowering and forces leggy leaf growth. Tolerates partial shade but blooms suffer.

How often should I water nymphaea 'attraction'?

Water nymphaea 'attraction' permanently submerged; maintain pond level, top up in summer heat. An aquatic perennial grown in still or very slow-moving water 45-75 cm (18-30 in) deep over the crown. Avoid fountain spray or splash on the pads. Top up evaporation in hot spells to keep planting depth stable. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is nymphaea 'attraction' toxic to cats and dogs?

Nymphaea 'Attraction' is mildly toxic to pets. Nymphaea is not individually listed by the ASPCA toxic/non-toxic database; the dangerous ASPCA 'lily' entries refer to Lilium and Hemerocallis, which are botanically unrelated. Because Nymphaea is unconfirmed and anecdotal GI upset (vomiting, drooling, lethargy) has been reported in pets that chew foliage, treat with caution and verify with a vet before assuming it is safe.

What USDA hardiness zone does nymphaea 'attraction' grow in?

Nymphaea 'Attraction' is rated for USDA zone 3-11 (hardy waterlily; rootstock must overwinter below ice) and RHS hardiness H5. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Nymphaea 'Attraction' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of nymphaea 'attraction' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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Nymphaea 'Attraction' qualifies for 3 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Nymphaea 'Attraction' is also commonly called Attraction Hardy Waterlily.