Burgundy Princess. Sunfire. Lemon Meringue. Mulberry Mystique — one could be forgiven for believing these were colour swatches or crafted cocktails. In reality, they are the names of different water lilies and lotuses seen on the catalogue of the Lily Pond Store.
Located on the Sarjapura-Attibele Road, this space was conceptualised and brought into being by Indira Shankarwho turned a hobby into a business venture.
“My fascination with these beauties began around 35 years ago,” says Indira. “I would pick up a few of these plants during road trips to Mysore or Chennai, my home town, when we’d stop by ponds or other water bodies along the way.”
Indira Shankar
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Special Arrangement
Indira’s husband travels quite a lot and he would bring back variants found in Indonesia, Thailand and other places. “Friends and family would bring them too. Initially, I grew these plants on the terrace of our home, killing many of them in the process,” Indira says with a laugh.
“I began to grow them at home in small pots, by trial and error. Initially, I was not successful and I realise today, I was doing everything I shouldn’t do. At the time, there was no internet access to educate myself on the needs of different varieties and hybrids.”
Indira adds that when she began her collection, she had no idea aquatic plants were part of a vast kingdom of which water lilies and lotuses were only a small portion.
Eventually, her collection on her terrace increased through propagation. “Soon, I was giving them away as gifts to acquaintances and since I had a lot of time on my hands, my daughter suggested I begin a water lily business.”
At the Lily Pond Store, Bengaluru
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Special Arrangement
This time round, Indira was armed with an iPad and did a lot of research before venturing into this project. Not keen on the idea of a nursery, she set about developing a method by which she could courier a plant to reach customers.
“Luckily, I hit upon all correct things, despite the lack of experience. I used to make holes in the parcel so the plant would not wilt. I also realised bare root plants were sturdier and stood a better chance of being transported.”
A plant from the Lily Pond Store includes detailed instructions on how to “pot” your plant. “Step-by-step instructions are sent along with the plant. They are easy to follow, plant and maintain. If they are followed without deviation, 100% success is guaranteed.”
That was about 11 years ago, and what began as a small initiative has turned into a cottage industry of sorts, says Indira, adding that many of her regular customers have also begun cultivating and propagating these plants.
According to Indira, a water garden need not be a pipe dream for apartment dwellers. “Space is not required, you can even grow them in a container on your balcony. The most important ingredient is four to five hours of direct sunlight. A sun-hit area of two feet by two feet is more than enough for them to bloom and grow.”
At the Lily Pond Store, Bengaluru
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Special Arrangement
Once her collection crossed more than 300 varieties, Indira could no longer keep them at home, hence the need for a nursery. Online, the Lily Pond Store has250varieties of water lilies and 85 lotus kinds with prices ranging from ₹450-5000 for the bare root plant alone, while the nursery has around 60 types of lilies and 35-40 lotuses on any given day.
The store offers the option to setting up for customers based in Bengaluru. One can also make a video call and select a plant which will be sent to them. .
Despite the years, Indira is still amazed by the marvellous shades and shapes of these plants. “There are more than 3000-4000 registered hybrids in this genus alone, which means I have seen only 2% of this microcosm. It’s a big world out there and so much to learn; I will not be able to collect all of them in this lifetime.”
The Lily Pond Store in on the Sarjapura-Attibele Road, S Medihalli. Log on to www.lilypondstore.in for details
At the Lily Pond Store, Bengaluru
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Published – August 30, 2025 12:54 pm IST
