Blue Waterlily

Afrikaans name: Blouwaterlelie

Photo © Steven Herbert

Nymphaea nouchali

The Blue Waterlily is an attractive plant that is found extensively through Africa.

Flowers are produced all year round but often they close around the middle of the day, only to re-open the next day. The flowers attract numerous Honey Bees. Normally the flowers are blue but they can also be pink, white or mauve.

The leaves are large (up to 40cm across), notched and oval shaped. They often serve as a place for insects to rest. Tadpoles also rest on them if they are partially covered with water.

Apparently Hippos eat the tubers of the Blue Waterlily should they become exposed with the water level dropping.

References and further reading

The Gardener - 2020/07 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 12

The Gardener - 2012/11 - Author: - Published: 2012 - Page: 10

The Gardener - 2020/02 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 60

Sasol First Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Southern Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 1999 - Page: 51

Sasol First Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Southern Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 1999 - Page: 4

Illustrated Guide to the Wildflowers of Northern South Africa - Author: Gerrit Germishuizen & Brenda Clarke - Published: 2003 - Page: 147

Plants of the Baviaanskloof - Author: D Euston-Brown & M Kruger - Published: 2023 - Page: 61

SA Wild Flower Guide No 8 - Southern Overberg - Author: P Mustart, R Cowling & J Albertyn - Published: 2003 - Page: 132

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 327

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 47

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 304

Field Guide to Wild Flowers of South Africa - Author: John Manning - Published: 2009 - Page: 46

A Visitors Guide to Kirstenbosch - Author: Colin Paterson-Jones - Published: 0 - Page: 22

Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of South Africa (updated edition) - Author: John Manning - Published: 2019 - Page: 46

A Field Guide to Wild Flowers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 2005 - Page: 460

For more info: SANBI

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List of South African Plants