This year, to ensure the best conditions for all categories of waterlilies, we opted to have two (2) different growing locations for the submissions. The hardy and hardy ISG waterlilies were grown in a more temperate site at Denver Botanic Gardens with grower Tamara Kilbane. In contrast, the tropical waterlily and miniature categories were grown at Naples Botanical Garden with grower Matthew Herrman.
We received entries in the following four (4) categories: Hardy, Hardy Intersubgeneric, Tropical Day-Blooming, and Miniature waterlilies.
An international panel of judges evaluated the entries based on the quality of the flowers and foliage and the plant’s general impression and uniqueness. The grower’s notes and photos over the eight-week observation period were also considered. Among the judges were professional waterlily growers from botanic gardens and plant nurseries, hybridizers, and experienced hobbyists.
2024 Judges, in alphabetical order:
- Cui Wei Yu, China
- James Bennett, Bennett’s Water Gardens, United Kingdom
- Kelly Billing, Water Becomes a Garden, United States
- Sander Dekker, Netherlands
- Tomas Escribano, Spain
- Marco Millet, Mexico
- Rolf Nelson, Nelson Water Gardens, United States
- Rich Sacher, United States
- Jon Sander, Glenstone Museum, United States
- John Sou, Water Garden Paradise, Australia
- Joe Summers, Chalily, United States
THE WINNERS OF THE 2024 IWGS NEW WATERLILY COMPETITION
2024 IWGS Best Overall New Waterlily
Nymphaea ‘Dreaming Beans’
by Li Xiao (China)
2024 IWGS Best New Hardy Waterlily
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Blessings’
by Li Xiao (China)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Tilelli’
by Florian Henaux (France)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Princess Elise’
by Peter Nitzsche (United States)
2024 IWGS Best Tropical Day blooming Waterlilies
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Pradhyota’
by Somnath Pal (India)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Boonpa
Wasanasong’
by Prajak Tumrarieng (Thailand)
3rd Place
Nymphaea Un-named
by Florida Aquatic Nurseries (United States)
2024 IWGS Best New Hardy Intersubgeneric Waterlilies
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Alice Henaux‘
by Florian Henaux (France)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Siam Orchid’
by Pairat Songpanich (Thailand)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Phikhat Phiri‘
by Dachrat Wannapornpanich (Thailand)
2024 IWGS Best New Miniature Waterlilies
1st Place
Nymphaea ‘Dreaming Beans’
by Li Xiao (China)
2nd Place
Nymphaea ‘Little Mermaid‘
by Wachira Singkong (Thailand)
3rd Place
Nymphaea ‘Parichat‘
by Pornchai Sukkasemsamranjit (Thailand)
We would like to thank all the hybridizers for offering their creations for evaluation and express our sincere gratitude to the judges who volunteered their time to examine these hybrids and made many tough decisions. Our thanks also go out to those who donated to the IWGS in support of the Competition.
Not least of all, we wish to extend our gratitude to Naples Botanical Garden and Denver Botanic Gardens for hosting this year’s competition and providing the location and staff to ensure its success. We could not have done this without you.