Variegated White Snowflake (Nymphoides indica ‘Variegated’)

Description

Variegated White Snowflake for Sale — Butterfly-Patterned Lily Pads and Delicate Fringed White Flowers

If you’ve been searching for Variegated White Snowflake for sale, Quinn’s Fins grows Nymphoides indica ‘Variegated’ — commonly known as Butterfly Snowflake or Variegated Water Snowflake — right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse. Variegated White Snowflake is the most visually refined form of the beloved Water Snowflake (Nymphoides indica) — producing small, round, floating lily pad-like leaves beautifully variegated in white and green with a distinctive butterfly-wing patterning that makes each leaf as ornamental as the flowers themselves. Rising just above these decorative pads on short stalks, the flowers are paper-white, one inch across, with densely fringed, frilly petals that give the plant its evocative snowflake name — each individual bloom lasting only a single day, yet produced in continuous succession from summer through first frost so the plant is almost always in flower throughout the growing season. Variegated White Snowflake for sale at Quinn’s Fins ships bare root (SKU 6124-1, $10.99) ready to establish in your pond margin, shallow water garden, or container water feature.

Why Variegated White Snowflake for Sale Is the More Beautiful Form of Water Snowflake

The variegated form of *Nymphoides indica* delivers everything the standard green species offers — surface coverage, fish shelter, nitrate filtration, and continuous fringed white blooms — with one significant visual upgrade: the white and green butterfly-patterned leaf variegation that makes the foliage as decorative as the flowers.

• White and green variegated butterfly-wing patterned lily pads — each leaf individually patterned; no two exactly alike
• Delicate paper-white fringed snowflake flowers — each 1 inch across with densely frilled petal edges that create a lacework effect
• Continuous blooming from summer to frost — flowers produced in daily succession so the plant is almost always in bloom
• Small lily pad-like floating leaves 2–3 inches across — refined scale suited to small ponds, container gardens, and water features
• Spreads via runners, plantlets, and free-floating stem sections — naturally covers pond surface over time
• Excellent surface coverage and shade — reduces algae growth by limiting light penetration to the water column
• Safe for fish — koi, goldfish, and all pond fish compatible; provides shade and hiding spots
• Active nitrate absorber — filters excess nutrients from pond water as it grows

Growing Variegated White Snowflake — Care at a Glance

Planting

Variegated White Snowflake must be planted in soil — despite its floating appearance, it is a rooted aquatic plant, not a true floater. Plant the bare root in a 1-gallon planting container or small aquatic basket filled with heavy loam or aquatic planting soil. Place the rhizome horizontally in the soil with the crown just at the soil surface. Set the container on a pond shelf in 4 to 12 inches of water. The plant will send out floating stems across the water surface from the planted crown — do not expect it to simply float freely without an anchored root system.

Light

Variegated White Snowflake performs best in full sun to partial shade — full sun produces the most prolific flowering and the most vivid white and green leaf variegation. In partial shade, the plant grows and blooms but with somewhat reduced flower production. The butterfly-wing leaf pattern is most striking in strong light where the white variegation reflects maximum contrast against the green areas.

Water Depth

Plant in 4 to 12 inches of water over the container rim. Shallower water (4–6 inches) produces more compact growth and more prolific blooming. Deeper water (up to 18 inches) is tolerated but produces longer stems and larger leaf spread. Do not exceed 18–20 inches as the plant may struggle to send leaf stems to the surface.

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 70–85°F (21–29°C)
• pH: 6.5–7.5
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Water Depth: 4–12 inches over container (up to 18 inches tolerated)

Fertilization

Variegated White Snowflake benefits from regular aquatic fertilizer tablets pushed into the container soil every 3–4 weeks during the growing season. In established koi and goldfish ponds, the natural bioload provides sufficient supplemental nutrition without additional fertilization. Do not over-fertilize — in high-nutrient environments the plant can spread aggressively.

Surface Coverage Management

Variegated White Snowflake spreads readily via creeping rhizomes, free-floating stem sections, and plantlets produced along the leaves. Do not allow it to cover more than 50–60% of the pond surface — excessive coverage reduces oxygen exchange and can stress fish. Trim or remove excess growth regularly during the peak growing season. Never dispose of cuttings in natural waterways — this species has invasive potential in warm climates.

Hardiness and Overwintering

Variegated White Snowflake is hardy in Zones 9–12 only. In cooler zones it is grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in a heated aquarium or greenhouse. Below Zone 9, bring the container indoors before first frost and keep in a warm, brightly lit location with the roots submerged in water. Replant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed in spring.

Shipping Restrictions

Nymphoides indica cannot be shipped to North Carolina (Class A State Noxious Weed), Louisiana, or Florida due to invasive plant regulations. Buyers in other warm-climate states should verify local aquatic plant regulations before purchasing.

Nursery-Grown at Quinn’s Fins

Every Variegated White Snowflake for sale at Quinn’s Fins is grown right here in our on-site nursery greenhouse — not drop-shipped or bulk-sourced. Your plant ships bare root ready to establish. We grow what we sell.

For more on growing Water Snowflake in ponds and water gardens, visit the Pond Informer’s Water Snowflake care guide or browse our full selection of pond and water garden plants at Quinn’s Fins.

Variegated White Snowflake Plant Details