How to Grow Midnight's Delight Water Lily
Midnight's Delight Water Lily
Nymphaea 'Midnight's Delight'
flowerMidnight's Delight is a tropical night-blooming water lily cultivar prized for its deep purple-to-black flowers that open in the evening and close by morning. This aquatic perennial produces stunning blooms with a sweet fragrance and broad floating leaves, making it a dramatic focal point in water gardens and ponds. It thrives in warm water conditions and requires adequate space and sunlight to flourish.
When should you plant Midnight's Delight Water Lily in your zone?
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Example Midnight's Delight Water Lily timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Midnight's Delight Water Lily
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Midnight's Delight Water Lily blooms
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 10-11; can be grown as an annual in cooler zones or overwintered indoors
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Dormancy/Establishment
1-2 weeksNewly planted rhizome shows minimal visible growth as roots establish in the planting medium
Keep water warm and still; apply aquatic fertilizer tablets near the rhizome; ensure good water circulation without strong currents
Vegetative Growth
2-3 weeksFirst leaves emerge and unfold on the water surface; plant develops multiple leaf shoots and root systems
Maintain water temperature above 70°F; begin weekly fertilization with aquatic plant fertilizer; ensure at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
Flowering Initiation
1-2 weeksFlower buds begin to form; plant becomes more robust with numerous floating leaves covering the water surface
Continue regular fertilization; maintain warm water (74°F+); increase sunlight if possible; thin crowded leaves to improve air circulation and light penetration
Blooming
Throughout warm season (May-October in zones 10-11)Deep purple to nearly black flowers emerge in the evening, opening at dusk and closing by mid-morning; sweet fragrance is most pronounced at night
Continue weekly fertilization to sustain blooming; maintain water level and temperature; deadhead spent flowers by pinching below the flower base; enjoy evening blooms
Decline/Dormancy
October through April (depending on location)As water temperature drops below 70°F in fall, blooming ceases; leaves yellow and deteriorate; plant enters dormancy or dies back
In zones 10-11, reduce fertilization and allow plant to rest; in cooler zones, move container indoors or drain and store rhizome in cool, moist sand for winter; clean up dead foliage
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Handpick affected leaves; use neem oil spray; introduce beneficial aquatic insects; maintain healthy plant vigor
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Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap safe for ponds; encourage natural predators like ladybugs
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Maintain good water circulation and aeration; remove decaying organic matter; adjust water management
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and
Ensure excellent water quality and circulation; remove diseased foliage immediately; avoid overcrowding; maintain proper water temperature
Uses
Ornamental Water Garden Focus
CulinaryWhile not edible, Midnight's Delight serves as the centerpiece of tropical water garden cuisine-inspired landscape design, creating an evening entertaining space around the pond. The night-blooming characteristic makes it ideal for sunset dinner gatherings and nighttime pond viewing. [source]
Cut Flower Arrangements
HouseholdDeep purple-black blooms can be cut and floated in shallow bowls as dramatic evening table centerpieces indoors. The unique color and sweet fragrance make it a sought-after specimen for special events and floral design. [source]
Garden Design & Landscape Feature
CraftMidnight's Delight is prized by water garden designers and pond enthusiasts as a showstopping tropical specimen that transforms evening garden experiences. Its striking coloration and night-blooming habit create unique aesthetic and experiential garden value. [source]
Pollinator Habitat & Ecosystem Support
WildlifeNight-blooming water lilies attract nocturnal pollinators including moths, beetles, and bats while providing shelter and habitat within pond ecosystems. The floating leaves offer rest surfaces for aquatic insects and serve as breeding grounds for beneficial pond fauna. [source]
Traditional Water Lily Uses
MedicinalWhile Midnight's Delight is primarily ornamental, water lilies have a long history in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Ayurveda and Chinese herbalism, where rhizomes and flowers are used for cooling and calming properties. Modern research continues to explore bioactive compounds in Nymphaea species. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Water lilies are ornamental flowers, not typically harvested for food. To enjoy the blooms: cut flowers for arrangements in the morning before they fully close (they will reopen in water); or simply observe evening blooming by the pond. Flowers last 3-4 days after cutting. For propagation, collect seeds from mature seed pods and store in cool water; or divide rhizomes in spring when new growth appears.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Midnight's Delight earned its name because it is a tropical night-blooming water lily, opening dramatically at dusk and closing by mid-morning—the opposite of day-blooming water lilies; this behavior attracts nocturnal pollinators in its native tropical habitats.
- 🌱 The deep purple-to-black coloration of Midnight's Delight flowers is among the darkest in water lily cultivars, achieved through decades of hybridization by water garden breeders seeking ever-more dramatic colors.
- 🌱 Water lilies have been cultivated and revered for thousands of years, featured prominently in Egyptian art, Hindu mythology, and Buddhist symbolism; Claude Monet's famous water lily paintings in the early 1900s sparked global interest in growing tropical lilies in temperate regions.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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