Early in Spring as waters begin to warm, Firecrest forms one of the most attractive open growing habits, symetrical and eye-catching, then starts to light up a few buds at a time. Firecrest is a spectacular bloomer, about 30 quite perfect lavender pink petals forming cupped shaped blooms with distinctive and startling orange-red stamen within. Firecrest can be a shy bloomer at times with flurries of blooms rising above the water which are elegant and distinctive, expect a bloom or two on the go in it's first full Summer with occasional periods when it seems to tease. Heat tolerant in a droughted pond, Firecrest will send its rhisomes deep into the mud to survive a hard baked pond. Suitable for small to medium size positions, on a clay pond it seems to have a modest spread only about three or four feet wide, likely to be less on a low fertility pond, less than three feet wide. Lilypads six inches or less, juvenile leaves starting a deep rich purple brown turning to a deep green later.