Egyptian white water-lily
Nymphaea lotus, family Nymphaeaceae
A night-blooming white water-lily and the national flower of Egypt
The Egyptian white water-lily is an aquatic plant with floating round leaves and large white or cream flowers that open at night. Native to parts of Africa and also found in Southeast Asia, it is grown for its beauty in ponds and aquariums, and its tubers and seeds are sometimes eaten.
- Flowers open at night and are white or cream
- National flower of Egypt
- Tubers and seeds are eaten in some regions
- Helps reduce water evaporation in ponds
- Grown in aquariums and ponds for decoration
What does Egyptian white water-lily look like?
This water-lily grows in ponds and slow-moving waters, sending up round floating leaves with toothed edges. Its flowers, which open at night, are white or cream and can reach up to 25 cm across, rising above the water on sturdy stalks. The blossoms have a large number of yellow stamens in the center and a light to faint scent. The plant also forms thick underground stems called rhizomes.
Where does Egyptian white water-lily come from?
The Egyptian white water-lily is native to East Africa and Southeast Asia, and has also been recorded in Brazil, Angola, and Gabon. It was first formally named in the 18th century and is the type species for its subgenus. In Europe, a form once thought unique to warm springs in Romania was later shown to be the same species. The plant can survive dry periods by retreating to its rhizomes.
When and how Egyptian white water-lily blooms
This perennial water-lily grows from rhizomes in shallow, still or slow-moving water. Its leaves and flowers float or stand just above the surface. Flowers open at night and close by day. In aquariums, it is kept in warm water with good light. The plant spreads by both seeds and runners from the rhizome.
How Egyptian white water-lily is used
People grow the Egyptian white water-lily in ponds and aquariums for its striking night flowers. In some places, its tubers and seeds are eaten. The flower is an emblem of Egypt and has been used in symbolic ways, such as on a wedding veil to represent Malawi. It also helps reduce water evaporation where it grows.
Kinds of Egyptian white water-lily
A variety once thought to be a relic from ancient times, found in warm springs in Romania, is now considered the same as the main species. The plant is tetraploid, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes. No major cultivated forms are widely noted in the sources.
What Egyptian white water-lily means
The Egyptian white water-lily is the national flower of Egypt and appears in cultural and symbolic contexts. It was chosen to represent Malawi in a royal wedding veil. While it is not threatened globally, it is considered at risk in the Mediterranean region.
Where Egyptian white water-lily is used and seen
Questions people ask about Egyptian white water-lily
Where does the Egyptian white water-lily come from?
It is native to East Africa and Southeast Asia, and can also be found in countries like Brazil, Angola, and Gabon.
What does the Egyptian white water-lily look like?
It has round floating leaves with toothed edges and large white or cream flowers that open at night, rising above the water on thick stalks.
What is the Egyptian white water-lily used for?
It is grown for its attractive flowers in ponds and aquariums, and its tubers and seeds are sometimes used for food. It is also a national symbol of Egypt.
Is the Egyptian white water-lily endangered?
Globally, it is not considered threatened, but in the Mediterranean region it is listed as Critically Endangered.
Does the Egyptian white water-lily have any special meaning?
Yes, it is the national flower of Egypt and has appeared as a symbol in cultural and ceremonial contexts.
Good reading and sources
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Nymphaea lotus on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Nymphaea lotus", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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