Victoria amazonica: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Waterlily seeds have been used as a food source in Central America and was once known as 'water corn' in Paraguay, because of its large seeds that were used to make flour.
Plant Profile: Victoria amazonica
Taxonomy: Victoria amazonicaNames
Amazon Water Lily, Amazon Water-platter, Giant Water Lily, Royal Water Lily
Phonetic Spelling:vic-TOR-ee-uh am-uh-ZOH-nik-uh
Genus:Victoria
Species:amazonica
Family:Nymphaeaceae
The Giant Waterlily represents one of the two species within its genus and is characterized by its non-viviparous nature, indicating that its seeds do not mature while still attached to the parent plant. As the largest member of the water lily family, its lily pads can reach an impressive diameter of up to 8 feet. The striking blooms, which range from white to pink, emit a delightful fragrance reminiscent of sweet pineapple during their initial day of a two-day blooming cycle. These flowers, which only last a few days, open at night on the first day in a white hue, transitioning to a purple-red color on the second night, at which point they also lose their scent.
The leaves of the Giant Waterlily are rounded and slightly elevated, supported by a ribbed underside that is anchored to a submerged stalk, allowing the leaf to float gracefully on the water's surface. The stalks can extend up to 26 feet in length, often embedding themselves into the lake or riverbed. This fast-growing plant can increase in size by as much as 20 inches daily. While the upper surface of the leaves is water-repellent, the underside is equipped with sharp spines that deter herbivorous fish. Air is trapped between the ribs on the underside, providing buoyancy.
This plant is best suited for expansive water gardens and is typically grown as an annual in North Carolina without winter protection. It thrives in calm waters, such as the backwaters of large rivers. In tropical regions, it can be cultivated as a perennial, flourishing when anchored in nutrient-rich loam. For the plant to survive as a perennial, water temperatures must remain above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Optimal growing conditions include 1 to 3 feet of calm, still water, while areas with strong currents or high winds should be avoided.
Seeds can be germinated indoors in containers submerged in water with consistent temperatures above 80 degrees. Outdoor planting is recommended in late spring, once water temperatures reach at least 70 degrees. Container-grown plants should be placed directly into still waters. In regions with colder winters, these containers can be removed and stored in a greenhouse until the next outdoor growing season.
Pollination occurs when the plant attracts beetles with the scent of its flower on the first night of blooming. The flower closes the following day, trapping the beetles inside. During this time, the plant transitions from a female to a male, producing pollen. The flower reopens the next night as a scentless red-purple bloom, releasing the beetle, now covered in pollen, which then travels to another white flower to continue the pollination cycle.
Currently, there are no known issues with insects or diseases affecting this plant.
Victoria amazonica Feature Summary
Victoria amazonica Image Gallery
Tags
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#water garden
#rain garden
#fragrant flowers
#annual
#showy leaves
#large leaves
#water plant
#herbaceous
#tropical perennial
#herbaceous perennial
#large flowers
#pond
#waterlilies
#pool
#tropical
Similar Plants
Victoria amazonica is often confused with:
Victoria amazonica Feature Summary
Attributes
Waterlily seeds have been used as a food source in Central America and was once known as 'water corn' in Paraguay, because of its large seeds that were used to make flour.
South America, Amazon reagion
Pollinated by beetles.
The seeds can be eaten.
Perennial
Annual
Fragrance
Attracts Pollinators
Colorful
Textural
Attractive Flowers
Flowers
Night-blooming and very free-flowering. 9 to 12 inch flowers are creamy-white the first day, become pink to purple the second and possible third days. The flowers will only last 2-3 days. They are very fragrant
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Cream/Tan
Fragrant
Showy
Summer
more than 20 petals/rays
> 6 inches
Leaves
4 to 6' or more round yellowish-green leaves have upturned edges to form a rim. The underside of the leaf is coppery red. There are sharp spines on stems and underside of leaves.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Orbicular
> 6 inches
Prickly
> 6 inches
Stem
Sharp spines on the stems
Whole Plant Traits
Water Plant
Spreading
Horizontal
Rapid
High
Medium
Spines
Prickles
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Frequent Standing Water
6-feet-12 feet
10a
10b
11a
11b
Landscape
Rain Garden
Water Garden
Accent
Specimen
Pool/Hardscape
Pond
Victoria amazonica Image Gallery
Victoria amazonica Attributes
Victoria amazonica: Country Or Region Of Origin
South America, Amazon reagion
Victoria amazonica: Wildlife Value
Pollinated by beetles.
Victoria amazonica: Edibility
The seeds can be eaten.
Victoria amazonica: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Victoria amazonica: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Victoria amazonica: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Victoria amazonica Flowers
Victoria amazonica: Flower Description
Night-blooming and very free-flowering. 9 to 12 inch flowers are creamy-white the first day, become pink to purple the second and possible third days. The flowers will only last 2-3 days. They are very fragrant
Victoria amazonica: Flower Color
Cream/Tan
Pink
Purple/Lavender
White
Victoria amazonica: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Victoria amazonica: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Victoria amazonica: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Victoria amazonica: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Victoria amazonica: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Victoria amazonica: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Victoria amazonica Leaves
Victoria amazonica: Leaf Description
4 to 6' or more round yellowish-green leaves have upturned edges to form a rim. The underside of the leaf is coppery red. There are sharp spines on stems and underside of leaves.
Victoria amazonica: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Red/Burgundy
Victoria amazonica: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Victoria amazonica: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Victoria amazonica: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Victoria amazonica: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Victoria amazonica: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Victoria amazonica: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Victoria amazonica Stem
Victoria amazonica: Stem Description
Sharp spines on the stems
Victoria amazonica: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Victoria amazonica Whole Plant Traits
Victoria amazonica: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Victoria amazonica: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Victoria amazonica: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Victoria amazonica: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Victoria amazonica: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Victoria amazonica: Appendage
Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns
Victoria amazonica Cultural Conditions
Victoria amazonica: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Victoria amazonica: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Victoria amazonica: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Victoria amazonica: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
Victoria amazonica Landscape
Victoria amazonica: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Victoria amazonica: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Victoria amazonica: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
