White Water-Lily

The White Water-Lily has large, circular, leathery, lily-pad leaves that are green on top and reddish underneath. It has large spectacular, fragrant, white flowers, with prominent yellow stamens that are borne on stalks just above the water.

The White Water-Lily grows in ponds, lakes, canals, ditches and slow moving rivers, rooting in mud at the bottom to a depth of 3 metres, with the leaves and flowers above the surface of the water, while the rest of the plant is submerged.

It flowers during the summer, from June to August. It needs a sunny day for the flowers to fully open and if the sun starts to wane the flowers will start to close.

The White Water-Lily is native to Britain and is the largest flower produced by any British wild plant, growing up to 20cm in diameter.

Found throughout Britain although absent from northern Scotland and south west England.