Perry Slocum hybridized 'Fire Opal' in 1987 and it still gets grown for the same reason — double fuchsia-pink blooms five to seven inches across, held over dark purple-bronze pads, flowering from late spring into early autumn. It is hardy, so it stays in the pond over winter. What You'll Receive One viable young Nymphaea 'Perry's Fire Opal' tuber, with a healthy rhizome and 1–2 actively growing leaves, ensuring strong establishment and continuous growth. Plant Profile Common name — Perry's Fire Opal Water Lily Scientific name — Nymphaea 'Perry's Fire Opal' Type — Hardy, day-blooming; hybridized by Perry D. Slocum, 1987 Flower — Double fuchsia-pink with yellow stamens, 5-7 inches across, lightly fragrant Foliage — Round, dark green to purple-bronze pads; spread up to 3 ft Placement — Centerpiece in a pond or container water garden; also tanks 20 gallons and up Mature height — 12-24 inches Growth rate — Fast Care Difficulty — Beginner Sunlight — Full direct sun, 6-8 hours daily Planting depth — 12-24 inches over the rhizome Water — 65-80°F, pH 6.0-7.5; still or gently circulating Soil — Heavy loam or field soil with aquatic fertilizer tablets near the rhizome Basket — Micro-perforated square basket, 28×28 or 35×35 cm depending on pond space Propagation — Rhizome division Grower's Notes Hardy means it stays in the pond. Unlike tropical lilies, which have to be lifted and stored each autumn, this one overwinters below the freeze line and returns stronger every year. The bronze pads are half the effect. Dark purple-bronze foliage under fuchsia double blooms is a much stronger contrast than the usual green pad. Position it where you see the leaves as well as the flowers. Give it three feet of surface. The pad spread reaches about 90 cm. In a small pond it will cover the whole surface, which starves anything growing below it of light. Feed it or it stops flowering. Three to five fertilizer tablets pushed in beside the rhizome at planting, then topped up through the season, is what keeps a double-flowered lily producing. Plant the crown clear of the soil. Set the rhizome at an angle against the basket side with the growing tip exposed, then cap with gravel. Buried crowns rot. Indoors it takes a large tank and hard pruning. Nearly all of these go into ponds, but 'Fire Opal' will grow indoors in a tank of 20 gallons or more. Flowers only come under very bright, sun-like light held for a long day; below that you get the bronze pads and little else. Trim often, or that three-foot spread closes over the surface and shades everything under it. New to planting water lilies? Read our complete Water Lily Planting Guide — tuber angle, soil, depth and the one mistake that kills most first lilies. Notes All water lilies are shipped bare-root (as tubers) and should be planted immediately upon arrival for best results. Bloom and leaf color, size, and shape may vary slightly depending on lighting, water quality, and plant maturity. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
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