Delivery Times: Most growers ship water lilies via UPS 2nd or 3rd Day Air so that they arrive at your door fresh and ready to plant. During growing season, normal order-to-door delivery time averages 7 to 10 days. Growers get backed up in spring, so delivery times may be longer.

Spring Deliveries: Water lilies cannot be harvested and shipped until weather conditions permit, both at the nursery and at the destination address. For growers in the south, the first shipments go out in early to mid March to customers in southern states, and for customers in northern states shipments usually go out in early April.

Northern growers start shipping a little later, usually in early to mid April to customers everywhere. Tropical water lily varieties require warmer temperatures and they start shipping in late March from southern growers and early May from northern ones. Water lilies can be shipped until around October 1.

Phytosantitary Inspections: Some states require that aquatic plants shipped from out of state be inspected at the grower before shipment by a state agricultural inspector. This person issues a phytosanitary certificate stating that the plants are invasive pest-free.

Restrictions can be complicated and they don't always apply to all states, plus states are always adding new restrictions, so your grower will let you know if any apply to you. As of 2006, the states requiring some form of phyto inspection were: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, HI, FL and WA.

State phyto inspectors usually visit growers once a week and they demand a fee for their services. Most growers pass this on to the customer, though some may absorb it if the order is large enough. The fee usually ranges from $15.00 to $25.00. Be aware that these inspections can delay shipment by 5 to 10 business days.

Alaska, Hawaii & Puerto Rico: Most growers will ship to these locations, and as of 2006 none of these states was requiring phyto inspections.

Delivery Condition: The industry norm is to ship water lilies bare root. This means that they will arrive in a box, sealed in a plastic bag with moist paper. You will see the roots, along with a number of leaves and even some buds. If the lilies are planted right away, these should survive and continue to grow. If they cannot be planted immediately, float the lilies in the pond or in a bucket of water. After planting you will see new growth almost immediately, and will typically have an established, blooming plant in four to eight weeks.

If your UPS driver usually leaves packages in a sunny spot, leave him or her a note to deposit the plants in a shady spot if you are not home when they are delivered.

Substitutions: It is not at all uncommon for growers to run out of certain plants, and they may not know it until they get to the field. Most will ask you when you order if you will permit them to select a comparable plant for you. If you aren't too particular about the lily, then go ahead and trust their judgment - that will save everyone time. If, however, you want that lily and that lily alone, make sure you ask the grower to contact you if it turns out not to be available.