(Common Spatterdock, Yellow Pond Lily)

Native across much of eastern North America, yellow pond lily is a truly common water plant that is vigorous and pretty in a naturalistic way. It thrives in both fresh and salt water environments from marshes to pond or lake edges and sluggish stream sides. It is extraordinarily cold hardy but also thrives in the Deep South. Its starchy roots are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked, and its seeds can be roasted until crunchy and eaten like popcorn.

The glossy, arrow-shaped leaves of yellow...

(Australian Fire Tree, Australian Flame Tree, West Australian Christmas Tree)

Eluding cultivation because of its need for a host to grown on, the West Australian Christmas tree dazzles in its native habitat with an intense, golden orange flower display. In its natural range across extreme southwestern Western Australia, the blooming season coincides with the approach of Christmas, in late spring and very early summer. A distant relative to mistletoe, this evergreen tree attaches some of its roots onto the roots of any array of other plant species nearby for moisture and nutrient...

(Albert Greenberg Waterlily, Tropical Day-blooming Waterlily)

The day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘Albert Greenberg’ is a very free-flowering cultivar with orange-pink petals that have slightly deeper pink tips. These beautifully fragranced, cup-shaped flowers are held above the water surface and begin to close around sunset. The pollen-carrying anthers in the flower's center are a canary yellow. This waterlily has green floating leaves with numerous streaks of purple. Leaf undersides are green and pink with dark red blotches. They are supported by flexible...

(Aquarius Waterlily, Tropical Day-blooming Waterlily)

The day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘Aquarius’ is a very free-flowering hybrid cultivar with deep violet-blue, somewhat crumpled petals. These lightly fragranced, large and full, star-shaped flowers are held above the water surface and begin to close in the early evening around sunset. The pollen-carrying anthers in the flower's center are chocolate brown with purple tips. This waterlily has oval, dark green floating leaves with occasional purple mottling. Leaf undersides are deep green with very...

(Director George T. Moore Waterlily, Tropical Day-blooming Waterlily)

The day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘Director George T. Moore’ is a very free-flowering cultivar with possibly the richest colored deep violet petals imaginable. These beautifully fragranced, large flowers are held above the water surface and become broadly wide by the end of the first day. They begin to close in the early evening. The pollen-carrying anthers in the flower's center are also violet. This waterlily has nearly perfectly round green floating leaves with few purple blotches. Leaf undersides...

(Eve's Solitare Waterlily, Tropical Day-Blooming Waterlily)

The day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘Eve's Solitare’ is a free-flowering cultivar with iridescent blue or violet-blue petals. These fragranced, flat flowers are held above the water surface and begin to close in the early evening around sunset. The pollen-carrying anthers in the flower's center are light and dark blue, and lavender. This waterlily has round, green floating leaves with prominent dark red splatterings. Leaf undersides are green and purple. They are supported by flexible olive green...

(Green Smoke Waterlily, Tropical Day-blooming Waterlily)

The unusually-colored day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘Green Smoke’ is a free-flowering cultivar with inner petals green-yellow with blue tips and outermost petals fully blue. These pleasantly fragranced, cup-shaped flowers are held above the water surface and begin to close in the early evening around sunset. The pollen-carrying anthers in the flower's center are golden yellow with green tips. This waterlily has oval, green floating leaves with faint blotches of purple. New leaves are bronzy pink...

(Isabelle Pring Waterlily, Tropical Day-blooming Waterlily)

The day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘Isabelle Pring’ is a very free-flowering cultivar with creamy white flowers that is viviparous, bearing small live plants from its leaves. The large, fragranced, star-shaped flowers are held above the water surface and begin to close in the early evening. The pollen-carrying anthers in the flower's center are yellow. This waterlily has green floating leaves with purple spots and toothed margins, or edges. They are supported by flexible bronzy green stems that...

(King of Siam Waterlily, Tropical Day-blooming Waterlily)

The day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘King of Siam’ is a true double-flowered cultivar with impressive deep blue petals. These nicely fragranced, flat-star flowers are held above the water surface and begin to close in the early evening around sunset. This cultivar is sterile and lacks the many anthers and stamens in the flower center. This waterlily has oval, green floating leaves wiht reddish purple undersides. They are supported by flexible pinkish brown stems that arise from a rhizome growing...

(Leopardess Waterlily, Tropical Day-blooming Waterlily)

The day-blooming tropical waterlily ‘Leopardess’ is a free-flowering cultivar best regarded for its attractive floating leaves. Its flowers are blue with purple-tipped petals and are only slightly fragrant. The cuplike blossom opens in the morning and closes by sunset. This waterlily has nearly round, purple floating leaves with green blotches. Leaf undersides are green with innumerable purple spots. They are supported by flexible, dull brown stems that arise from a rhizome growing in mucky soil...