IWGS 2012 New Waterlily Competition at Denver Botanic Gardens

The International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society has chosen Denver Botanic 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 unique new tropical, hardy and intersubgeneric waterlilies.  In the past few years, several note-worthy new hybrids have been introduced as a result of the competition.  The most recent example is ‘Siam Purple 1’, hybridized by Pairat Songpanich of Thailand.  This purple flowering intersubgeneric waterlily is a cross between a hardy waterlily and a tropical day-blooming lily and demonstrates the characteristics of a hardy waterlily.  

This year, 24 new hybrids have been entered in the competition and include 8 entries in each category.  These one-of-a-kind waterlilies will be on display in the Upper Fountain Pond at Denver Botanic Gardens from June through September.  Visitors are invited to see these new hybrids up close this summer and to choose their favorites via text message voting as part of the People’s Choice Awards.  Those who are unable to visit the gardens in person are encouraged to vote online here.

In addition to the People’s Choice Awards, a panel of IWGS judges will award prizes for the Best New Waterlily in each category, as well as the Best New Waterlily Overall in September.  The official and public voting results will be announced in mid-September.

Click into a category below to vote.  You can vote for one hybrid per category.

Intersubgeneric Waterlilies