Truly Named WGI Water Gardeners International

Truly Named WGI © Water Gardeners International

Turning the Tide Against Waterlily Identity Theft Text by Charles B. Thomas Power. Point Presentation by Kit Knotts Identity Problems Since the waterlily is the highlight of your pond, it is essential that you get what you pay for. When you purchase a particular color, shape or type and it turns out to be something else, you have every right to be disappointed.

The cheap and fast-multiplying Nymphaea mexicana is not what you want when you pay a premium price for. . . Nymphaea mexicana Werner Wallner Photo

. . . the prized and more expensive miniature N. ‘Helvola’. Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Helvola’ Werner Wallner Photo

Even worse, when you buy a waterlily with the well-known name N. ‘Joey Tomocik’ on its label, it proves not to be what you selected and paid for, you are not simply disappointed, but possibly defrauded. You have been unwillingly subjected to a case of waterlily identity theft. Nymphaea ‘Joey Tomocik’ Kit Knotts Photo

Perhaps you are satisfied with any waterlily, even though it is not labeled correctly, as long as it is pretty but you should not be. Kit Knotts puts it this way, “Would you be happy if you received a garment in the wrong color or size? No! You would take action! You would return it and, at the least, you would expect an apologetic attitude together with a prompt exchange or refund. If a seller made errors repeatedly, would you continue to buy there? Why should it be any different with your waterlily supplier? ”

In other words, if you received the prolific and cheap Nymphaea mexicana when you paid a premium for the more expensive N. ‘Sunrise’. . . Nymphaea ‘Sunrise’ Kit Knotts Photo

. . . or N. ‘Mangkala Ubol’, you rightfully would feel cheated. Nymphaea ‘Mangkala Ubol’ Kit Knotts Photo

When you buy a waterlily labeled “yellow”, it should bloom yellow. You may pay a slight premium for a correctly labeled named waterlily, but good reasons why exist. A named waterlily displays specific, unique characteristics, special qualities that made it worthy of naming. No other waterlily is quite like it, but each plant that carries the name must be identical. Growers produce new plants by dividing mature plants or by growing them from tubers of the original, assuring exact duplicates. Many excellent waterlily sellers provide only plants grown as described above. But. . .

Unfortunately, many uninformed and/or unscrupulous and/or downright dishonest sellers tempt water gardeners with knockoffs or incorrectly labeled waterlilies at cheap prices. They attach well-known plant names to unknown or less popular varieties, sometimes through ignorance but usually for profit. Not Nymphaea gigantea blue form Kit Knotts Photo

Nymphaea gigantea blue form Rich Sacher Photo

Not Nymphaea ‘Missouri’ Kit Knotts Photo

Nymphaea ‘Missouri’ Kit Knotts Photo

Nymphaea ‘Missouri’ Kit Knotts Photo

Beyond the fact that this is wrong, consider some practical aspects. Knowing the correct name of a lily allows you to obtain information about its habit and cultivation. Is it suitable for your climate? Is its size right for your pond? Does it require any special care to do its best? Is it notoriously difficult or especially easy? Correctly named waterlilies have a history and a proven record of distinct qualities. Misinformed or unscrupulous dealers offer N. ‘Leopardess’ in various forms. .

Not Nymphaea ‘Leopardess’ Jessica Clements Photo

Only one form qualifies for the N. ‘Leopardess’ name. All others with this name steal it – cases of identity theft. When you pay the price for N. ‘Leopardess’, you should receive the real thing, not a fake imitation with different characteristics. Nymphaea ‘Leopardess’ Perry D. Slocum Photo

For several years up to 2006, some e-retailers offered Craig Presnell’s marvelous N. ‘Serendipity’ (2001 IWGS/RHS Banksian Medal winner) on their sites. Asked specifically about positive correct identification, they (falsely) confirmed correctness. Craig never released his unique winner. Therefore, how could any e-retailer truthfully have it to sell?

Nymphaea ‘Serendipity’ Craig Presnell Photo

Accidental misidentification of waterlilies can happen. Sometimes in a busy nursery, waterlilies lose their labels and then receive incorrect labels from insufficiently trained (in waterlily ID) seasonal help.

Fertilized flowers can produce seeds which sprout new plants without any labeling, and then can receive an incorrect label. Seedlings different from the parent show in this image.

Diversity of seedlings from a single hybridization by Pairat Songpanich, Thailand X Nymphaea ‘Mayla’ Nymphaea ‘Madame Wilfron Gonnère’

Consider the range of flower diversity that a single planned cross between two waterlilies can produce. Renowned Thai photographer and waterlily hybridizer Pairat Songpanich carefully documented thirty distinctly different offspring from a single cross of two waterlilies, N. ‘Mayla’ (pod parent) and N. ‘Madame Wilfron Gonnère’ (pollen parent). You can readily understand that bees and other insects can cause serious identity problems for a waterlily grower who is not diligent about being alert for unintended seedlings. The same problem can occur in the crowded tanks or ponds of retailers.

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Remember, even though numerous hybrids produce sterile flowers, chance seedlings do appear frequently. Many waterlilies, especially night blooming tropicals, produce fertile blossoms that readily reproduce, but not true to type. Not Nymphaea ‘Red Flare’ Kit Knotts Photo

Nymphaea ‘Red Flare’ Kit Knotts Photo

Identity Solutions During the mid-nineteenth century, three leading US waterlily growers jointly addressed the need for correct identification and labeling of their plants. These discerning producers also had to double as retailers for their own production. In those times local nurseries refused to be bothered with aquatic plants.

Charles Tricker (Tricker’s), Dr. G. L. Thomas, Jr. (Lilypons Water Gardens, then Three Springs Fisheries), and Perry D. Slocum (Slocum Water Gardens) met annually in Saddle River, NJ, Adamstown, MD, or Binghamton, NY, to discuss water garden matters. They always walked around their premises making sure that all agreed on waterlily identification. These invigorating annual meetings inspired the 1984 formation of the Water Lily Society (IWGS).

Dr. G. L. Thomas Jr. Perry D. Slocum Charles Tricker

The nurserymen consulted respected texts, especially Henry S. Conard’s The Waterlilies, a monograph of the genus nymphaea. In 1974, Charles O. Masters published his Encyclopedia of the water-lily that describes and color-illustrates more cultivars in a single book than any previous work.

With Peter Robinson in 1996, Perry Slocum wrote Water Lilies and Lotuses. Perry followed this in 2005 with another outstanding identity aid, Waterlilies and Lotuses. IWGS Earlier, in 1993, released its Identification of Hardy Nymphaea.

Kit Knotts made a huge advance with publication of the Waterlily Image Galleries and Names List found on the partner Victoria-Adventure and Water Gardeners International web sites. Today over 1, 700 names populate the Names List. Waterlily Image Galleries and Names Lists

In early 2006, WGI’s members voted waterlily identity theft as their top water gardening concern. Kit, Rich Sacher, and Craig Presnell, with help from others, developed Truly Named

Many excellent waterlily sellers provide only plants grown as accurately described in WGI’s Official International Checklist of Nymphaea (Waterlily) Names. Unfortunately, many uninformed and/or unscrupulous and/or downright dishonest sellers tempt water gardeners with knockoffs or incorrectly labeled waterlilies at cheap prices. They attach well-known plant names to unknown or less popular varieties, sometimes through ignorance, but usually for profit. Beyond the fact that this is wrong, consider some practical aspects. As stated earlier, knowing the correct name of a lily allows you to obtain specific information about it. Is it suitable for your climate? Is its size right for your pond? Does it require any special care to do its best? Is it notoriously difficult or especially easy? Correctly named waterlilies have documented characteristics and a proven performance record. Truly Named , the truth-in-labeling program of Water Gardeners International, publishes a Directory of growers, wholesalers and retailers who pledge to sell true to name waterlilies. Many provide images and provenance linked from the Directory. WGI©

Check to see if your waterlilies are correctly named. Look in the encyclopedic waterlily Image Galleries and the extensive lists of Named Waterlilies on WGI/V-A sites. Recognized waterlily experts continually review and update the lists. You, the buyer, are the force that can stop waterlily identity theft. By learning as much as you can about the lilies you have and those you want to have, by insisting on correct labeling and complaining when you don't receive it, by letting WGI know about your experiences whoever the seller, you benefit yourself and everyone who loves water gardening.

Truly Named www. Water. Gardeners. International. org