The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

Common Name: Fragrant Water Lily

General Information

Nymphaea odorata is a Perennial
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

N. America - Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to California, Florida, Mexico and Cuba.

Habitat

Acidic or alkaline ponds, lakes, sluggish streams and rivers, pools in marshes, ditches, canals, or sloughs from sea level to 1700 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Flies, Beetles, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A water plant requiring a rich soil and a sunny position in still or slowly flowing water that is at least 30cm deep[, , ]. An over-rich soil, or growing the plant in water that is too deep, inhibits flowering[]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 7[].
There are two basic types of plant in this genus (this species is a crawler):-
'crawlers' are species with horizontal roots that often spread freely, with new plants being formed at intervals along the root. These species are useful for naturalising, but they do not flower very freely in the cool summers of Britain[].
'clumpers' have vertical roots, they form slowly spreading clumps and produce offsets around the crown. These forms flower much more freely in Britain[].
A very ornamental plant[], the sweetly fragrant flowers are 12cm in diameter[]. The flowers open in the morning, when they are at their most fragrant, and close in the afternoon[].

Edible Uses

Flower buds - cooked as a vegetable or pickled[, , , ].
Young flowers - raw[].
Leaves - raw or cooked[]. Used in soups and stews[, , ].
Root[, ]. Boiled or roasted[].
Ripe seed - cooked or ground into a meal[].

Medicinal

The root is alterative, anodyne, antiseptic, astringent and demulcent[, , , ]. A tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of TB, chronic bronchial complaints, diarrhoea, dysentery, gastrointestinal inflammation, gonorrhoea, vaginal discharge, inflamed glands, mouth sores and to stop bleeding[, ].
A poultice made from the roots is used in the treatment of swellings, boils, tumours, inflamed skin, vaginitis etc[, ]. The roots are harvested in the autumn once the plant has died down, and are dried for later use[].
A complete cure of uterine cancer by a decoction and uterine injection has been recorded[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse in pots submerged under 25mm of water. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the first true leaf appears and grow them on in water in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting them out in late spring.
The seed is collected by wrapping the developing seed head in a muslin bag to avoid the seed being lost. Harvest it 10 days after it sinks below the soil surface or as soon as it reappears[].
Division in May. Each portion must have at least one eye. Submerge in pots in shallow water until established[].