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Giant Water Lily

What is giant water lily?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Scientific name Victoria amazonica[1]
Family Nymphaeaceae[1]
Leaf size up to three metres wide[2]
Native range Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru[2]

Giant water lily is a common name for *Victoria amazonica*, an aquatic plant known for its enormous floating leaves and night-blooming flowers.

Context

Giant water lily is a common name for *Victoria amazonica*, an aquatic flowering plant in the water lily family (*Nymphaeaceae*). It is known for its very large floating leaves and night-blooming fragrant flowers [1]. The leaves can be up to three metres wide [2]. The plant is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru [2]. It is one of the largest of all waterlilies [2]. The flowers open at night and are fragrant and heat-producing [2]. They turn pink after the first night [2].

Documented claims

  • It is one of the largest of all waterlilies. [2]
  • The flowers open at night and are fragrant and heat-producing. [2]
  • The flowers turn pink after the first night. [2]

Questions and answers

What is special about giant water lily?

Its leaves can be up to three metres wide, and its flowers open at night, are fragrant, and turn pink after the first night [2].

Where do giant water lilies grow?

They are native to Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru [2].

Sources

  1. Victoria amazonica - National Parks Board (NParks)www.nparks.gov.sg › florafaunaweb › flora — nparks.gov.sg (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Water lily | Description, Flower, Characteristics, & Facts — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things