Nymphaea odorata
White Water Lily
General
A beautiful wetland plant with bright white flowers, found growing in ponds, lakes, and slow moving water up to 5' deep. Provides food and cover for beavers, waterfowl, and other wildlife, and provides cover for fish and amphibians. Most of the plant is edible, and may have some medicinal properties.
Plant Description
Broad, flat leaves float on the water's surface, up to 8'' wide and round. Bright flowers with waxy thick white outer petals and yellow centers open in the morning and close in the evening. Once pollinated, the flowers are pulled underwater to form fruit. White water lily can also spread through rhizomes.
Height (ft)
Underwater
Soil moisture
Wet, Water
Soil types
Muck
Wetland indicator
OBL
Shade tolerance
Intolerant, full sun
Bloom color
White
Bloom period
Spring to Fall
Drought tolerance
Intolerant
Salinity tolerance
None
Range
Native throughout the eastern United States, south to Central American and north through Canada. Introduced in the western United States and Alaska, and considered invasive in some western states.
Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]
Additional Information
According to the BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database, this plant has been used for many years by North American indigenous people. The Chippewa and Okanagan-Colville used the stems or dried, pulverized root and applied it directly to toothaches or mouth sores. The leaves were used by Micmac and Penobscot as poultices to relieve swelling in limbs. The Ojibwe people would also use the root as a cough medicine.