Victoria amazonica (vic-TOR-ee-uh am-uh-ZOH-nik-uh)
Family: NymphaeaceaeUnknownHerbaceous (1-3 ft)
Herbaceous (1-3 ft)Unknown
Giant Waterlily is one of two species in this genus and is not viviparous, meaning that the seeds do not develop before they detach from the parent plant. It is the largest member of the water lily family. The lily pads are up to 8 feet across and the large white to pink blooms are very fragrant, having a sweet pineapple-like scent on the first day of is two day lifecycle. White flowers will open at nighttime on the first day. When they open on the second night, they will be purple-red color and will have lost their scent. Its leaves are rounded and upturned. It is supported by a ribbed underside and anchored to a submerged stalk, with the leaf floating on the water surface. The stalks can be up to 26 feet long and in nature will embed themselves in the lake or river bottom. This rapid growing plant can expand by up to 20 inches per day. While the upper surface has water repellent properties, the underside is protected from herbivorous fish by its sharp spines. Air becomes trapped between the ribs on the underside, which keeps it afloat. It is suitable for large water gardens only and grown as an annual in North Carolina without winter protection. It grows best in quiet water as the backwaters of large rivers. In tropical zones, it can be grown as a perennial, where it will grow best when anchored in an organically rich loam. The water temperatures must remain above 75 degrees for the plant to remain as a perennial. One to three feet of quiet, still waters are the best growing conditions. Avoid locations that have currents running through, or are subject to heavy winds. Seed can be started indoors in containers that are placed in water that has constant temperatures above 80 degrees. Outdoor planting can be done in late spring, when the water temperatures have reached a minimum of 70 degrees. The plants that are grown in containers are placed into the still waters in their containers. In areas that experience cooler winters, the containers can be removed and stored in a greenhouse in anticipation of the next outdoor season. Pollination is achieved by the plant attracting beetles with its scent of the flower when it opens its first night. The flower will then close the next day, trapping the beetles. At that time, the plant will change from female to male and produces pollen. Opening again the next night as an unscented, red-purple flower, the beetle, that is now coated with pollen, is released. It will fly to the next white flower and repeat the pollination process. Diseases and Insect Pests: No known insect or disease problem are noted.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf shape
Orbicular
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
4 to 6' or more round yellowish-green leaves have upturned edges to form a rim. The underside of the leaf is coppery red. There are sharp spines on stems and underside of leaves.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Night-blooming and very free-flowering. 9 to 12 inch flowers are creamy-white the first day, become pink to purple the second and possible third days. The flowers will only last 2-3 days. They are very fragrant
Waterlily seeds have been used as a food source in Central America and was once known as 'water corn' in Paraguay, because of its large seeds that were used to make flour.