Family: Nymphaeaceae
Common Name: Giant Water Lily

This genus of two species of large, aquatic plants was named for Queen Victoria. In the mid to late 19th century, wealthy growers in the UK built special glasshouses to accommo­date them. One of the species, V. amazonica, which occurs naturally in the Amazon, is the largest water lily in the world. Living in water or mud, these water lilies are prickly on all except the upper leaf surface. The leaves grow 2 m (6 ft) in diameter in cultivation, but often much larger in the wild. Large, projecting veins containing air cells enable them to float. The large, white, highly perfumed flowers open only at night, sinking to the bottom after polli­nation and being replaced by large, berry-like fruits.

Species

V. amazonica (Synonym: V. regia), Amazon or royal water lily, produces leaves 2 m (6 ft) in diameter, with a reddish colour underneath and upturned margins, accentuated on larger leaves. The white flowers mature to pink, open­ing partially the first night and fully on the second night.

V. cruziana, Santa Cruz water lily, has green leaves which are hairy and purple on the undersides, and white, summer flowers. This species may be grown at slightly lower temperatures than V. amazonica.

Cultivation

In frost-prone climates, grow in a warm greenhouse or conservatory. They can be grown as annuals from seed sown in early spring. A large pool of water and a minimum water temperature of 27°C (81°F) are needed to grow these water lilies. Each plant needs about a cubic metre (yard) of richly composted soil, and crowns should be no more than 30 cm (12 in) below the water surface. Propagate from seed sown in pots set in shallow water. Germination occurs in about three weeks, when the seedlings should be transferred to larger pots until mature enough to plant out.

Climate

Warmest parts of zone 10 or tropical.