Nymphaea elegans, commonly known as the Tropical Royalblue Waterlily, is an aquatic perennial herb native to still and slow-moving freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and slow streams in the southeastern United States, particularly in Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, as well as in Mexico and the Bahamas. It typically features unbranched rhizomes and lily pads that float on the surface, with green upper leaves and purplish undersides. The plant is renowned for its showy, fragrant flowers which bloom from spring to fall, displaying a striking royal blue color. These flowers are initially female, becoming male as they mature, a characteristic known as protogyny.

The Tropical Royalblue Waterlily is valued for its ornamental beauty and is often used in water gardens and artificial ponds. It thrives in full sun to part shade and requires stagnant to slow-moving water with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. While it is a low-maintenance plant, it can spread quickly and may require regular management to prevent overgrowth. In its native range, it provides ecological benefits, such as habitat for aquatic life and food for sandhill cranes in Texas. Additionally, it has applications in traditional medicine. Gardeners should be aware that while it is not typically prone to diseases, it can be sensitive to water pollution and changes in water levels.CC BY-SA 4.0