Tim Jennings of Longwood Gardens offers an insider's look at the gardens' famous aquatic lilies in Daily Mail feature
With lily pads stretching six feet across and thorns sharper than a rose’s, the South American waterlilies at Longwood Gardens are nothing short of mind-blowing. And if you’re wondering whether these botanical beasts are even real, you’re not alone—horticulturist Tim Jennings hears that question a lot.
In a recent video shared by The Daily Mail, Jennings offers a behind-the-scenes look at Longwood’s newly reimagined Waterlily Court. He dives into the world of Victoria waterlilies, revealing how these jaw-dropping plants can support the weight of a small child, lure pollinators with pineapple-scented blooms, and defend themselves with a web of viciously spiked foliage.
Here at Splash, we’ve grown a few of these giants ourselves—though none quite as massive as Longwood’s! Our most recent adventure took place at UPMC Memorial Hospital, where it took a lot of trial, error, and a custom-built support structure to help coax Victoria into bloom. (Scroll down for some fun behind-the-scenes videos from our project!)
We picked up some cool information from Tim’s video, and we hope you’ll find it just as fascinating. If you get the chance, don’t miss the Waterlily Court at Longwood Gardens—it’s pure magic. And when you’re ready to bring some of that magic home, stop by Splash! While we don’t carry Victoria, we do have a wide range of other stunning lilies to choose from.
