American White Water-lily Nymphaea odorata
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nim-FAY-ah oh-dor-AY-ta
- Description
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Water lilies are a group of plants containing about 70 known species. They are either tropical or hardy and grow in water 3 inches to 3 foot deep with sandy loam to mucky soils. The spread is variable from 2 foot to about 20 foot. Larger plants need larger water gardens or ponds. Short ones do well growing in containers. They prefer non-moving water without fountains or currents. Most prefer full sun but some will tolerate some shade. The flowers are showy and usually fragrant with showy lily pads for leaves. Viviparous water lilies form plantlets attached to the mother plant.
American water lily is one of the most common white lilies. It has large, very fragrant blooms and needs a large water garden in full sun to flower well.
Although the flowers attract honeybees, beetles, and syrphid flies, the primary pollinator is Lasioglossum versatum, a small halictid bee.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- spp. odorata
- spp. odorata
- spp. odorata
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- spp. odorata
- spp. odorata
- spp. odorata
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nymphaea
- Species:
- odorata
- Family:
- Nymphaeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV Canada: BC , MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollen of the flowers attracts small bees. Lily pads provide a landing place for bees, shelter for pond life and shading helps prevent algae growth. Some mammals, turtles and birds eat the leaves and rhizomes and fruits.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits mature underwater in the early fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Very fragrant pure white flowers with yellow stamens which are 6-9 inches and cup-shaped and bloom June-September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Sinuate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 10 in. across, and bright green on top and the underside is reddish or purplish.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Reptiles
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Wet Soil
