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Victoria amazonica is often confused with:
Victoria 'Longwood Hybrid' leaves
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Canna Flower
Nelumbo nucifera Nelumbo nucifera with bees
Nymphaea 'Pamela' Flowers and leaves

Victoria amazonica

Phonetic Spelling
vic-TOR-ee-uh am-uh-ZOH-nik-uh
Description

Giant Waterlily is one of two species in this genus and is not viviparous, meaning that the seeds do not develop before they detach from the parent plant.  It is the largest member of the water lily family.  The lily pads are up to 8 feet across and the large white to pink blooms are very fragrant, having a sweet pineapple-like scent on the first day of is two day lifecycle. Only blooming for a few days, the flowers will open at nighttime on the first day being white.  When they open on the second night, they will be purple-red color and will have lost their scent.

Its leaves are rounded and upturned.  It is supported by a ribbed underside and anchored to a submerged stalk, with the leaf floating on the water surface.  The stalks can be up to 26 feet long and in nature will embed themselves in the lake or river bottom.  This rapid growing plant can expand by up to 20 inches per day.  While the upper surface has water repellent properties, the underside is protected from herbivorous fish by its sharp spines.  Air becomes trapped between the ribs on the underside, which keeps it afloat.

It is suitable for large water gardens only and grown as an annual in NC without winter protection. It grows best in quiet water as the backwaters of large rivers.  In tropical zones, it can be grown as a perennial, where it will grow best when anchored in an organically rich loam.  The water temperatures must remain above 75 degrees for the plant to remain as a perennial.  

1' to 3' of quiet, still waters are the best growing conditions.  In locations that have currents running through, or are subject to heavy winds should be avoided. 

Seed can be started indoors in containers that are placed in water that has constant temperatures above 80 degrees.  Outdoor planting can be done in late spring, when the water temperatures have reached a minimum of 70 degrees.  The plants that are grown in containers are placed into the still waters in their containers.  In areas that experience cooler winters, the containers can be removed and stored in a greenhouse in anticipation of the next outdoor season.  

Pollination is achieved by the plant attracting beetles with its scent of the flower when it opens its first night.  The flower will then close the next day, trapping the beetles.  At that time, the plant will change from female to male and produces pollen.  Opening again the next night as an unscented, red-purple flower, the beetle, that is now coated with pollen, is released. It will fly to the next white flower and repeat the pollination process.  

No known insect or disease problem are noted.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#water garden#rain garden#fragrant flowers#showy leaves#large leaves#herbaceous#tropical perennials#herbaceous perennial#large flowers#pond garden#waterlilies#poolside planting#tropical#annual
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#water garden#rain garden#fragrant flowers#showy leaves#large leaves#herbaceous#tropical perennials#herbaceous perennial#large flowers#pond garden#waterlilies#poolside planting#tropical#annual
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Victoria
    Species:
    amazonica
    Family:
    Nymphaeaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Waterlily seeds have been used as a food source in Central America and was once known as 'water corn' in Paraguay, because of its large seeds that were used to make flour.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South America, Amazon reagion
    Wildlife Value:
    Pollinated by beetles.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Fragrance
    Textural
    Edibility:
    The seeds can be eaten.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Water Plant
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Prickles
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    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:
    Night-blooming and very free-flowering. 9 to 12 inch flowers are creamy-white the first day, become pink to purple the second and possible third days. The flowers will only last 2-3 days. They are very fragrant
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Shape:
    Orbicular
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    4 to 6' or more round yellowish-green leaves have upturned edges to form a rim. The underside of the leaf is coppery red. There are sharp spines on stems and underside of leaves.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Sharp spines on the stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Pool/Hardscape
    Landscape Theme:
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Specimen