Yellow Pond Lily

(Nuphar lutea)

Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar lutea)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Nuphar lutea, commonly known as the Yellow Pond Lily or Brandy-bottle, is a perennial aquatic plant native to quiet freshwater habitats such as ponds, slow-moving streams, and protected areas in lakes across Europe, Siberia, China and North Africa. It is characterized by its floating, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive yellow flowers. The plant typically reaches a height of 40-100 cm above the water surface. The Yellow Pond Lily’s flowers are showy, with bright yellow sepals and smaller petals, blooming from June to September. The flowers are hermaphroditic and are pollinated by insects, particularly flies, attracted to their alcoholic scent. After pollination, the plant produces a green, bottle-shaped fruit that releases seeds upon maturity.

The Yellow Pond Lily is valued for its ornamental appearance and its ability to provide habitat and food for aquatic wildlife. It is often used in water gardens, natural ponds, and managed aquatic settings. This plant thrives in full sun to part shade and requires an aquatic environment with standing water. It is relatively low-maintenance, but it can spread quickly and may need to be controlled in smaller ponds. While generally disease-free, it can be affected by leaf spot and crown rot if water conditions are poor. The Yellow Pond Lily has no major issues with aggressive roots or invasiveness, but it should be noted that it can dominate smaller water bodies if left unchecked.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 0.5-2 feet
  • Width: 3-6 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: Yellow
  • Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Aquatic
  • Drainage: Standing

Common Uses

Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Quiet freshwater habitats such as ponds, slow-moving streams, and protected areas in lakes

Other Names

Common Names: Yellow Water-Lily, Brandy Bottle, Spadderdock, , Yellow Cowlily, Yellow Pondlily, Gul Åkande, Gelbe Teichrose, Grosse Teichrose, Nénuphar Jaune

Scientific Names: , Nuphar lutea, Nuphar luteum var. luteum, Nuphar lutea f. submersa, Nymphaea lutea, Nuphar lutea var. submersa, Nuphar sericea, Nymphozanthus luteus, Nenuphar luteum, Nuphar lutea subsp. asericea

GBIF Accepted Name: Nuphar lutea (L.) Sibth. & Sm.