Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Nymphaeaceae

Genus:

Nymphaea

Species:

Nymphaea elegans

USDA Symbol:

NYEL

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Aquatic

Height:

15 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

white, blue, violet

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

waterfowl, fish, turtles

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, organic, clay loam

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Thrives in freshwater ponds and slow-moving streams.

Propagation & Germination

Notes:

Seeds require submersion in water and warm temperatures; best sown fresh in aquatic conditions.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI