IWGS New Waterlily Competition at Duke Gardens

Update: the 2011 contest waterlilies have been removed from our pond for the season. But you can still vote online in the People's Choice Awards. Voting will end on Sept. 4. We will announce the judges' picks, as well as the People's Choice Awards, soon after that.

The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society has once again chosen Sarah P. Duke Gardens to be the growing site for the organization's annual New Waterlily Competition, a contest that draws entries from skilled hybridizers around the world.

The purpose of this competition is to promote interest in hybridizing new colors, forms and sizes of both tropical and hardy waterlilies. In the past few years, several noteworthy new hybrids have been introduced as a result of the competition, including plants with unusual flower shapes and colors, and with new leaf patterns and colors, as well as new viviparous waterlilies.

This year, 33 new hybrids were entered in the competition by hybridizers from the U.S., Canada, Thailand, Cyprus and Taiwan. These one-of-a-kind lilies are on display in the Virtue Peace Pond at Duke Gardens through September. Visitors are invited to see these new hybrids up close. Visitors also chose their favorites as part of the People's Choice Awards, which we'll announce soon.

Don't miss the chance to see these stunning new hybrids for yourself!

In addition to the People's Choice Awards, a panel of IWGS judges award prizes for the Best New Hardy Waterlily, Best New Tropical Waterlily and Best New Waterlily Overall

See the IWGS judges' winners here.

For more about waterlilies and other water plants, check out horticulturist Tamara Kilbane's blog.