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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 odorata ssp. odorata (American white waterlily)
Cressler, Alan

Nymphaea odorata ssp. odorata

Nymphaea odorata Aiton ssp. odorata

American White Waterlily

Nymphaeaceae (Water-Lily Family)

Synonym(s): Castalia lekophylla, Castalia minor, Castalia odorata, Castalia reniformis, Nymphaea minor, Nymphaea odorata var. gigantea, Nymphaea odorata var. godfreyi, Nymphaea odorata var. minor, Nymphaea odorata var. rosea, Nymphaea odorata var. stenopetala, Nymphaea odorata var. villosa

USDA Symbol: NYODO

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (I), PR (N), CAN (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

37 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Leaves and flowers float on the surface of the water.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
Canada: MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Habitat: Swamp/Marsh,Bog/Fen,Fresh Water Aquatic

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Clay, Sand

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Birds, Bees
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Cuttings
Description: PLANTING: place the water-lily in 0.5 to 1 meter of water right into the pond or into 30 cm deep containers that will be then placed into the pond (this will facilitate divisions later on and limit spreading). Each container should hold: 2/3 good soil, 1/3 compost, 1kg bone meal. During the summer cut away old and dead leaves. After a few years division might be needed if there are fewer flowers and smaller leaves. In the spring, dig out roots and cut away all the leaves, divide all the roots keeping at least one bud per portion. Sprinkle cut section with charcoal powder. Plant in a pot on the edge of the pond - submerge 1 to 2 cm and then deeper as the plant starts growing again. Then transfer to deeper water. (Fleurbec)

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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