Nymphaea odorata

Common Names

Fragrant Water Lily, White Water Lily, American White Water Lily, Sweet-Scented White Water Lily

Summary

Fragrant water lily, Nymphaea odorata, is a native eastern North American aquatic perennial with floating round leaves that have a V-shaped basal notch and a waxy upper surface, and large, fragrant white flowers with yellow centers that rest on long peduncles above the water; it grows from branched rhizomes rooted in mud, and flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon, giving a striking scented display on calm waters; it thrives in full sun with consistently wet conditions, in ponds, lakes, swamps, and slow-moving waters from shallow to moderately deep, and propagates by rhizome division or seed; cultivation commonly uses wide, shallow baskets with loamy soil submerged at depths of 6–24 inches and monthly fertilization with slow-release aquatic tablets; it spreads by rhizomes, is valued for ornamental water gardens and wildlife habitat, and can be invasive in some areas (California, Washington), with hardiness in USDA zones 3–11.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-12 inches

Spread

2-5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun, tolerates partial shade, tolerates full shade

Soil Type

Heavy loam topsoil

Soil Drainage

Submerged in water

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring through Fall

Foliage Color

Green with reddish or purplish undersides.

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast to vigorous growth; forms dense mats up to about 5 m in diameter within 2–5 years.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators (flies and beetles), and birds