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Red Water Lily Wikimedia Commons
Nymphaeaceae

Red Water Lily

Nymphaea rubra

Divine beauty and spiritual awakening.

Family
Nymphaeaceae
Genus
Nymphaea
Native to
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
Aquatic perennial
Height
15-30 cm above water
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Loamy pond substrate
Water
Aquatic
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • The flowers open at night and close during the day, making them nocturnal bloomers.
  • In Hindu mythology, the red water lily is associated with the goddess Lakshmi.
  • The leaves can spread up to 40 cm across and have a distinctive reddish-purple underside.
  • Young leaves and flower buds are consumed as vegetables in parts of South Asia.
  • The plant can survive seasonal droughts by storing energy in its underground rhizome.

Color meanings

0

Purity of heart

1

Passion

2

Enlightenment

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Water gardens
  • Culinary
  • Traditional medicine