Large, round leaves on lily pads make them stand out as water plants. They float gracefully on the surface of ponds and slow-moving rivers. The lily pad is made up of several different plant species in the Nymphaeaceae family. It’s a pretty place for many beautiful flowers to grow out of the water. When they’re blooming, lily pad flowers are a beautiful show of color and wonder. Let’s look at some of the most beautiful flowers that grow on lily pads.
Lotus Flowers
The lotus flower on lily pads is one of the most famous and culturally important ones. There are different kinds of lotuses, and their flowers are pink, white, yellow, and red. The flower has thin petals that open to reveal a center with thin stamens. The sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is likely the most well-known and revered species.
Lotus flowers are very important in many Eastern religions and cultures. In Buddhism and Hinduism, the lotus flower represents purity, enlightenment, and rebirth because it can grow from mud without getting dirty. Different parts of the lotus plant can also be eaten or used as medicine.
Water Lilies
There are roots in the mud below for lotuses, but water lilies float on the water’s surface. The genus Nymphaea includes about 70 different kinds of water lilies. These flowers come in bright shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, and white.
Some water lily species only bloom at night, with flowers that delicately open for a few days before sinking below the water. Popular water lily species include tropical water lilies that thrive in warm water, hardy water lilies that withstand cold climates, and fragrant water lilies like the European white water lily (Nymphaea alba).
Pickerel Weed
Pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) is an aquatic plant with long heart-shaped leaves that are a perfect foundation for its spikes of vibrant violet-blue flowers. It grows up to 3 feet tall and blooms through the summer months, spreading to form dense colonies in shallow water.
The flowers provide a pop of color along the water’s edge, while the plant itself supplies cover for fish and other aquatic animals. Its leaves and seeds also serve as food sources for waterfowl.
Frog’s Bit
Resembling a tiny floating water lily, frog’s bit (Limnobium spongia) has small rounded leaves, each bearing a single petite white flower. Its fragile blooms rise just centimeters above the water and feature three delicate petals.
Native to the American tropics, frog’s bit spreads rapidly across the water’s surface and has naturalized in the southern U.S. Its trailing growth offers shelter for fish and frogs.
Spatterdock
Also known as yellow pond lily (Nuphar advena), spatterdock produces yellow cup-shaped flowers from June to September. Its heart-shaped floating leaves provide a base for the 2-3 inch wide blooms to rise above freshwater ponds and streams across North America.
Spatterdock spreads aggressively to form large colonies that give shade, protection, and food for aquatic wildlife. Its pops of yellow blossoms stand out brightly along the water.
Fragrant Water Lily
As its name suggests, the elegant fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata) boasts sweetly scented white blooms. Its floating circular leaves can reach over 12 inches wide, providing ample space for the fragrant flowers that open in the morning and close at night.
Each pristine blossom lasts around 3 days before being replaced. Hardy fragrant water lilies flower from early summer into fall, thriving even in northern climates. Their upward facing petals and bright yellow centers shine in ponds and slow streams.
Growing Your Own Lily Pad Flowers
Natural lily pad habitats allow these stunning flowers to bloom right from the water’s surface. You can also cultivate lilies, lotuses, and other aquatic blooms on lily pads in backyard ponds. Plant them in pots submerged 1-2 feet deep so their foliage and blossoms cascade elegantly across the water.
Include sloped edges for marginal plants to take root in the shallows. With proper sun exposure and ideal water conditions, your personal lily pad pond can soon become a thriving showcase of nature’s most exquisite floating flowers. Just be mindful of containing the spreading growth of certain species within pots to prevent them from overtaking small ponds.
Flowers on lily pads create entrancing displays of aquatic beauty. Lush green lily pad leaves provide the perfect base for delicate blooms in an array of vivid colors to rise up and brighten ponds and water features. Take inspiration from these dazzling flowers to create your own flourishing water garden.
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