White Water Lily Plant Care
Nymphaea odorata Aiton
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Nymphaea odorata, also known as the American white waterlily, fragrant water-lily, beaver root, fragrant white water lily, white water lily, sweet-scented white water lily, and sweet-scented water lily, is an aquatic plant belonging to the genus Nymphaea. It can commonly be found in shallow lakes, ponds, and permanent slow moving waters throughout North America where it ranges from Central America to northern Canada.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for White Water Lily?
White Water Lily grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the White Water Lily Native To?
What Is the White Water Lily?
White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata) belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family within the Nymphaea genus. White Water Lily is native to shallow lakes, ponds, and permanent slow moving waters throughout North America. White Water Lily is also known as Fragrant Water Lily, American White Water Lily.
White Water Lily displays a floating aquatic plant growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . White Water Lily produces showy, fragrant, solitary flowers in various colors.
What Light Does the White Water Lily Need?
White Water Lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a White Water Lily?
Rich loamy soil with a layer of clay and organic matter, aquatic planting media. Good drainage is essential for White Water Lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a White Water Lily?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a White Water Lily?
White Water Lily can be propagated through division of rhizomes, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to white water lily plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the White Water Lily Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list White Water Lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the White Water Lily?
White Water Lily is susceptible to aphids, leaf miners, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
White Water Lily is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Nymphaea genus — compare its care with other Nymphaea species on PlantoScan.
Nymphaea is part of the Nymphaeaceae plant family — browse all Nymphaeaceae genera and species.
White Water Lily thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Nymphaea Species
Other Nymphaea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Nymphaea odorata Aiton, family Nymphaeaceae (first published in Hort. Kew. 2: 227 (1789)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list White Water Lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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