Fragrant waterlily
Nymphaea odorata

Family: Nymphaeaceae

What it is like

A waterlily. It grows 10-40 cm high and spreads 0.9-2.4 m wide. One plant can cover 5 squ metres of water area. The leaves float on water. The leaves are green on top and red or purple underneath. The leaves are fairly round. They are 15-20 cm across. The leaves with stalks spread 1-1.2 m wide. The flowers tend to be white. The flowers are 5-11 cm across. It flowers during the day.

There are about 50 Nymphaea species. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in water. It grows in warm temperate regions. It suits hardiness zones 3-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Canada, Central America, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, North America, South America, Suriname, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The flower buds are pickled or eaten as a cooked vegetable. The flowers are eaten raw. The leaves are used in soups and stews. The tubers are eaten. The seeds are eaten raw, boiled, roasted or ground into flour.

Edible parts

Flower buds, leaves, seeds, tubers, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by underground stems.

Its other names

Local names

American white waterlily

Synonyms

Castalia minor (Sims) DC. ex Small; Castalia odorata (Aiton) Woodv. & Wood; Nymphaea odorata subsp. odorata and others