2015 IWGS New Waterlily Competition
The entries to the 2015 New Waterlily Competition were grown at Denver Botanic Gardens, under the supervision of Senior Horticulturist Tamara Kilbane. Twenty entries in three categories (Hardy, Intersubgeneric, and Tropical) reached blooming size in time to be judged in mid-October.
All photos provided by Tamara Kilbane
THE JUDGES
The judging panel consisted of 12 experienced growers and professionals around the world:
- Danny Benjamin (Israel)
- Deb Spencer (USA)
- Derek Lyle (USA)
- Farley See (Canada)
- Gianluca Bonomo (Italy)
- James Allison (UK)
- John Loggins (USA)
- Miguel Castillo (Venezuela)
- Paula Biles (USA)
- Rich Sacher (USA)
- Tim Jennings (USA)
- Tom Gleeson (Australia)
THE WINNERS
The votes have been counted and the results for the 2015 IWGS New Waterlily Competition winners are listed below:
2015 IWGS Best Overall New Waterlily:

Nymphaea ‘Srichon’
by Nopchai Chansilpa
2015 IWGS Best New Hardy Waterlily

1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Manickam’
by Vasu Manickam

2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Darjeeling’
by Florian Henaux
2015 IWGS Best New Tropical Waterlily

1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Valentine’
by Florida Aquatic Nurseries

2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Morada Bay’
by Florida Aquatic Nurseries
2015 IWGS Best New Intersubgeneric (ISG) Waterlily

1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Srichon’
by Nopchai Chansilpa

2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Amaranthine’
by Mike Giles
We would like to take the opportunity to thank Tamara Kilbane and Denver Botanic Gardens for the enormous effort that they have undertaken in hosting this event for the past 4 years. We are very grateful for this contribution.
The New Waterlily Competition will be relocating to a new location next year. This will be announced in the coming months.