Turtle Ate My Water Lily: Will It Come Back?

A new water lily (leaves + bud) was destroyed by a pond turtle. Stems damaged. Will it regrow next year if the turtle is gone?

Depends on the Crown (Growing Tip)

• Crown intact: Lily will likely resprout next spring. Energy stored in tuber.
• Crown crushed/eaten: Dead. No growing point = no regeneration. $40 lesson.

Turtles + Lilies = Incompatible

Turtles (especially sliders, cooters) are omnivores. They love water lily leaves, flowers, and tubers. They will destroy every lily you plant.

Options

1. Remove Turtle: Rehome (not release—often illegal/invasive). Then replant.
2. Protect Lily: Wire cage (hardware cloth) around tuber and emerging stems. Ugly, but works.
3. Turtle-Proof Plants: Water hyacinth, water lettuce, duckweed (they eat these too but regrow fast), lotus (tougher stems), marginals (pickerelweed, iris).

Check the tuber now. Firm, white/pink crown = hope. Mushy, hollow, chewed = compost it.