# Water Lily (*Nymphoides peltata*) Water lilies are pretty flowers that float on water. They have big, round leaves and can be white, pink, or yellow! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Ponds and lakes - **Also known as:** Nymphaea ![Water Lily](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424752/objects/4950.jpg) ## Appearance The Water Lily has round, leathery, green leaves that float flat on the water's surface. Its vibrant yellow, star-shaped flowers with delicate fringed petals rise just above the water, creating a striking contrast against the dark water. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Magnoliophyta - **Class:** Rosopsida - **Order:** Solanales - **Family:** Menyanthaceae - **Genus:** Nymphoides ## Interesting facts - Butterflies and bees love sipping nectar from their sunny, bright yellow blossoms! - Some water lily seeds can stay alive for over a century before sprouting! - Their thick, waxy leaves have tiny pores called stomata on top for breathing! - Water lily roots help anchor the soil, preventing it from washing away in water! ## Special abilities - **Solar Panel Leaves:** Water Lilies have broad, flat leaves that float to capture maximum sunlight, helping them grow bigger and faster. - **Sun Sentinel:** Its delicate flowers gracefully open with the morning sun and close at night, protecting their parts from evening dew. - **Underwater Networker:** This plant spreads quickly underwater using creeping rhizomes, allowing it to colonize new areas and create dense patches. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-10 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Eurasian Coot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-coot) (*Fulica atra*) — eats plant parts - **Eats:** [Mute Swan](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mute-swan) (*Cygnus olor*) — grazes on aquatic vegetation - **Eats:** Water Lily Beetle (*Galerucella nymphaeae*) — larvae and adults feed on leaves - **Pollinates:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen - **Shelter:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — rests and hunts among leaves ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Water Lily? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Water Lily? 5-10 cm ### How wide does Water Lily spread? 30-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on Water Lily? 2-4 cm ### When does Water Lily bloom? Summer ### Is Water Lily edible? No ### Is Water Lily toxic? None ### What is Water Lily's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Clinton Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clinton-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Mincio Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mincio-regional-park) — IT · Park - [Shimane Hana-no-Sato Flower Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shimane-hana-no-sato) — Chugoku, JP · Park - [Shirotori Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shirotori-garden) — Chubu, JP · Park - [Goryokaku Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goryokaku-park) — Hokkaido, JP · Park [View all places to see Water Lily](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/water-lily) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Water Lily: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/water-lily)