FNPS Plant Database

Nymphaea odorata

white water-lily

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

white water-lily

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Nymphaea odorata

Family:

Nymphaeaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

aquatic

Size:

Floating--leaves -- spread about 5 ft on water surface.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms sprint to fall when wet and warm.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Aquatic species with floating leaves and flowers. Spreads in appropriate water bodies.

Considerations:

Could overrun small ponds or water features.

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Specialty Provider

Propagation:

Typically from pieces of the underwater stems. Also available containerized.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

1 ---to--- Stays wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Flies, bees, and beetles have been recorded. 

Native Habitats:

Aquatic. Marshes, swamps in openings, still water.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

While native in Florida, this species is invasive in other areas, especially the Pacific Northwest.

Citations:

Wiersema, J. (1988). Reproductive Biology of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 75(3), 795-804. 



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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