Black-Eyed Susan Vine vs Water Lily

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

Thunbergia alata

Acanthaceae · vines

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Water Lily

Nymphaea spp.

Nymphaeaceae · aquatic

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Zones 10-11)

Water Lily (Zones 3-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 10–11

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Acanthaceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	vines	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Well-drained	Pond/Water garden
Height	8'	6"
Spread	2'	4'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Summer
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Africa	Worldwide
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Water Lily

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan Vine if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 10–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

View Black-Eyed Susan VineProfile →View Water LilyProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 10 through 11.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Water Lily?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Water Lily at 6". Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Water Lily?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Water Lily has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Water Lily
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Nymphaea spp.
Family	Acanthaceae	Nymphaeaceae
Category	vines	aquatic
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧 Aquatic
Soil	Well-drained	Pond/Water garden
Height	8'	6"
Spread	2'	4'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Summer
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Africa	Worldwide
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Water Lily

✓Plant in containers submerged 12-18 inches deep.
✓Needs 6+ hours of direct sun.
✓Fertilize monthly during growing season.
✓Divide when crowded.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan Vine if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 10–11. They share similar sun requirements (full sun), making them potential garden companions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Water Lily grows in zones 3-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 10 through 11.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Water Lily needs full sun and aquatic water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Water Lily?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Water Lily at 6". Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Water Lily spreads 4'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Water Lily are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Water Lily?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Water Lily has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.