Tropical night-blooming water lilies are grown as annuals in temperate zones. They are in the Nymphaeaceae family which is Latin for water lily. The plants vary in size depending on the species and cultivar. They prefer temperatures above 70 degrees F so don't plant them too early in the spring. Provide at least 5 hours of sun in fertile loamy soils and fertilize with an appropriate fertilizer for water lilies according to package directions. These water lilies are planted in a container and then sunk into the water garden or pond. Follow planting directions from the seller. Tubers can be dug up and stored for next year if desired. Viviparous water lilies form plantlets attached to the mother plant. They are pollinated primarily by night beetles. Night bloomers open in the evening and close by dawn to late morning of the following day. They are general fragrant, held above the water and come in shades of white, yellow, re, pink, purple, blue and orange. Use these plants in a water garden, pond, or container. Larger plants need larger water gardens or ponds, while small ones do well in containers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for crown rot, waterlily aphids, waterlily beetles, midges, and leaf spot More information on Nymphaea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 10 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Orbicular
Leaf margin
Dentate; Undulate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Large showy rounded leaves with wavy to toothed margins and green to variegated or mottled with red or cream
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Large flowers with many petals in many colors are generally fragrant and held above the waer
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Three chambered capsules start out green and mature to brown. Splits to reveal seeds
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Water lily leaves provide a landing pad for thirsty bees while offering shelter for aquatic wildlife beneath the surface. The shade cast from the leaves also helps to prevent the growth of algae.