2021 IWGS New Waterlily Competition
This year 26 hybridizers from 9 different countries entered their best new waterlilies into the 2021 IWGS New Waterlily Competition (NWC,) making it the largest competition to date.
This was the third year the competition was held at Naples Botanical Gardens (NBG) where the plants were grown by Aquatics Areas Manager, Kathy Cahill.
We received entries in each of the following 5 categories: Hardy, Tropical Day-Bloomer, Tropical Night-Bloomer, Hardy Intersubgeneric and Tropical Intersubgeneric.
The entries were evaluated by an international panel of judges on the quality of the flowers and foliage as well as the general impression and uniqueness of the plant. These evaluations were made based on grower Kathy Cahill’s notes and photos over the ten-week observation period at the NBG. Among the judges were professional waterlily growers from botanic gardens and plant nurseries, as well as hybridizers and experienced hobbyists.
2021 Judges, in alphabetical order:
- Andre Leu (Regeneration International, Australia)
- Chris Song (South Korea)
- CuiWei Yu (Zhejiang Humanities Landscape Co Ltd, China)
- Dario Javier Baumgratz (Aeranthos Nursery, Argentina)
- Dave Brigante (Hughes Water Gardens, USA)
- Farley See (Moore Water Gardens, Canada)
- Iain MacGregor (Water Garden Life, Australia)
- James Allison (Aquapic, UK)
- James Bennett (Bennett’s Water Gardens, UK)
- Jon Sander (Glenstone Museum, USA)
- Longqing Chen (Lotus Branch of China Flower Association, China)
- Marc Hachadourian (New York Botanic Garden, USA)
- Rolf Nelson (Nelson Water Gardens, USA)
- Stevens Bernard (Les Jardin d’Eau de Carzac, France)
- Tim Jennings (Longwood Gardens, USA)
- Tomas Escribano (Spain)
- Vicki Mills Aber (Colorado Water Gardening Society, USA)
THE WINNERS
Here are the winners of the 2021 IWGS New Waterlily Competition:
2021 IWGS Best Overall New Waterlily
Nymphaea ‘Purple Zebra’
By Pornchai Sukkasemsamranjit (Thailand)
2021 IWGS Best New Hardy Waterlily
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Painted Pom Pom’
Tony Moore (USA)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Gabriel’s Delight’
by Timo Gabriel (Germany)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Sweet Angel’
by Potjanee Thongbai (Thailand)
2021 IWGS Best New Tropical Day Blooming Waterlily
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘‘Foi Thong’
by Korakott Pumpetch (Thailand)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Purple Passion’
by Florida Aquatic Nurseries (USA)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Sasimontron’
by Arun Kobkaew (Thailand)
2021 IWGS Best New Tropical Night Blooming Waterlily
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Tubtimchon’
by Rajamangala Institute (Thailand)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Aonubon’
Pang U Bon Waterlily Garden (Thailand)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Bancharak’
by Bancha Futrakun (Thailand)
2021 IWGS Best New Hardy Intersubgeneric (ISG) Waterlily
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Purple Zebra’
by Pornchai Sukkasemsamranjit (Thailand)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Siam Magnolia’
by Pairat Songpanich (Thailand)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Dark Valia’
by Andreas Protopapas (Cyprus)
2021 Best New Tropical Intersubgeneric (ISG) Waterlily
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Ravissada’
by Kanyaporn Inngam (Thailand)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Pimpapaan’
by Nopchai Chansilpa (Thailand)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Sunny Doll’
by Neng Xiang You (Taiwan)
We would like to thank all the hybridizers for offering their creations for evaluation and offer our gratitude to the judges who volunteered their time to examine these hybrids and made many tough decisions. Our thanks also goes out to those who made donations to the IWGS in support of the Competition. Not least of all, we wish to extend our gratitude to Naples Botanical Garden for generously providing growing space and especially heartfelt thanks to Kathy Cahill and Danny Cox for all their hard work in hosting this year’s competition.