Santa Cruz Water Lily Victoria cruziana
- Phonetic Spelling
- vic-TOR-ee-uh kroo-zee-AY-nuh
- Description
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Santa Cruz Waterlily is one of two species in this genus and is non-viviparous, meaning that the seeds do not develop before they detach from the parent plant. This night blooming specimen has a wide spread of 15-18 ft. The lily pads are up to 6.5 feet wide and the large blooms are fragrant and many. It requires shallow, quiet water such as the backwaters of large river systems. Grow as an annual in NC without winter protection. It requires a large water garden.
The seeds from this plant require that they be kept in water. Allowing them to dry out is a sure death of the seed. Each plant requires approximately 40 inches of water to perform at its best.
Only opening for two consecutive nights, the pineapple like scented flower will be white during the first night, and a purple-red the second night. The flowers are considered to be thermogenic, in that they create their own heat while they are budding, That allows the plant to more efficiently release its fragrance to surrounding beetles once opened. As the flower opens, it will rise above the water surface. After opening, the flower will slip below the water surface. Each flower has several whorls of petals and stamens that are arranged in a spiral. A typical plant can have as many as 50 flowers each summer.
The leaves are red-purple in color with soft hairs on the underside. The pad is a bright green with a tall rim.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No known issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Victoria
- Species:
- cruziana
- Family:
- Nymphaeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America
- Wildlife Value:
- Cross pollinated by beetles.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Textural
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Large, prickly, berry-like fruits. Seeds are numerous, up to .4 inches in diameter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- more than 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Up to 12 inch wide creamy white flowers become pink on the second day. They are strongly fragrant, night-blooming and very free flowering.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Orbicular
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Bright green lily pads up to 6.5 feet wide, with thick upturned leaf margins that form a rim up to 7 inches high. Undersides may be reddish. Sharp spines cover the underneath of leaves and stems.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems have prickles.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
