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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Nymphaea mexicana (Yellow waterlily)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Nymphaea mexicana Zucc.

Yellow waterlily, Yellow Water-lily, Banana lily, Banana waterlily, Sun lotus

Nymphaeaceae (Water-Lily Family)

USDA Symbol: NYME

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

An aquatic plant with bright yellow flowers and floating leaves.

The lovely flowers are open from midday to late afternoon. When the plants are crowded, the leaves may rise above the water. The plant was first discovered in Mexico, which accounts for the species name. It is also known as the Sun-lotus or Banana Water-lily.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Size Notes: 0-1
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AZ , CA , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX
Native Distribution: South Carolina, Florida, Mexico.
Native Habitat: Quiet water, ponds, ditches.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(I)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Aquatic: yes
Conditions Comments: An aquatic plant with bright yellow flowers and floating leaves. The lovely flowers are open from midday to late afternoon. When the plants are crowded, the leaves may rise above the water. The plant was first discovered in Mexico, which accounts for the species name.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Nymphaea mexicana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Nymphaea mexicana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Nymphaea mexicana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-09-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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