American White Waterlily
Nymphaea odorata
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Prince Edward I., Puerto Rico, United States
Cephas
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Nymphaeaceae
- Genus:
- Nymphaea
- Species:
- Nymphaea odorata
- USDA Symbol:
- NYOD
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Aquatic
- Height:
- 15 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Munroessa gyralis
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, beetles, waterfowl, turtles, fish
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, organic, waterlogged soil
- pH:
- 6.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers still or slow-moving freshwater habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds must remain submerged in water and require warm temperatures (20-25°C) for germination. Seeds lose viability if allowed to dry out.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds were cold stratified for 150 days.
Source: npn.rngr.net