Hairy Water Lily
Nymphaea pubescens, family Nymphaeaceae
A night-blooming water lily with softly hairy leaves and large pink or white flowers
Hairy Water Lily (Nymphaea pubescens) is an aquatic plant with broad, softly hairy leaves and striking flowers that open at night. Native to parts of Asia and found in regions like Bangladesh, India, and Southeast Asia, it is also grown in aquariums for its decorative blooms, which range from white to purple.
- Flowers open at night and close during the day
- Leaves have a softly hairy underside
- Found in ponds and lakes across Asia
- Grown in aquariums for its large blooms
What does Hairy Water Lily look like?
The Hairy Water Lily is an aquatic plant with leaves that are round to oval, sometimes arrow-shaped, and have a softly hairy underside. The leaves can reach up to 40 cm in length. Its flowers are large, about 15 cm across, and come in shades from white to pink or purple. The blooms open widely at night and close during the day, making them a striking sight in ponds or aquariums.
Where does Hairy Water Lily come from?
This species grows naturally in a wide area across Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia such as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It is also present in southern China, Taiwan, and stretches to Indonesia and Malaysia. Beyond Asia, it has been recorded in northeastern Australia and Papua New Guinea. The plant was first described in 1799 by Carl Ludwig Willdenow. Its name refers to the fine hairs on its leaves.
When and how Hairy Water Lily blooms
Hairy Water Lily grows from a tuberous rhizome that sends out slender runners. It prefers still, non-acidic water and does not survive in temperatures below 15°C. The plant can be either annual or perennial. Flowers open at night and close during the day, and it is commonly grown in large aquariums or garden ponds for its attractive appearance.
How Hairy Water Lily is used
People often keep this water lily in aquariums or ornamental ponds, where its night-blooming flowers add beauty. It is also found growing wild in lakes and ponds. The plant is not known for use in rituals or as a food source, but is mainly valued for its decorative qualities in water gardens.
Kinds of Hairy Water Lily
Flower color in Nymphaea pubescens can range from white to pink, mauve, or purple, depending on the variety or hybrid. The plant may be annual or perennial, and its leaves can vary in shape from round to arrow-like. Local names for the plant include kokaa in Hindi and Kumuda in Sanskrit.
What Hairy Water Lily means
While the Hairy Water Lily is not tied to specific festivals or religious practices in the sources, it is appreciated for its beauty in home gardens and aquariums. Its softly hairy leaves and night-opening flowers make it a unique feature in water landscapes. The plant is widely recognized in several Asian countries.
Where Hairy Water Lily is used and seen
Questions people ask about Hairy Water Lily
Where does the Hairy Water Lily come from?
The Hairy Water Lily is native to temperate and tropical regions of Asia, including countries like Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and areas of Southeast Asia. It also grows in southern China, Taiwan, and has been found in northeastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
What does the Hairy Water Lily look like?
This water lily has broad, round or oval leaves with a soft hairy underside. Its large flowers, which can be white, pink, or purple, open at night and close during the day. The blooms can reach about 15 cm across.
How is the Hairy Water Lily used?
People mainly use the Hairy Water Lily as a decorative plant in aquariums or garden ponds. Its striking night-blooming flowers make it popular for home water features.
What does the name 'pubescens' mean?
The word 'pubescens' refers to the fine, soft hairs that cover the underside of the plant's leaves.
Does the Hairy Water Lily have any special meaning or symbolism?
The sources do not mention any particular symbolic meaning or cultural significance for this species.
Good reading and sources
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, 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 pubescens on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Nymphaea pubescens", 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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