Leaf
Liliane Roubaudi, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Yellow water-lily
Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm.
Also known as: Brandy bottle, Spatterdock
Family: Nymphaeaceae
floating leaves, flower stalk emerging 10 to 30 cm above the water
Ponds, slow rivers, still water
Flowering: June – August
Full sun
Part shade
Shade
Hardy to -15°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its globose flower and its bottle-shaped fruit float just at the water's surface.
🍃 Leaves
Large, ovate, floating on the water surface
🌸 Flowers
Spherical, bright yellow, emerging just above the water
🍎 Fruits
Green flask-shaped capsule, ripening above the water
🪵 Bark
Thick submerged rhizome rooted in the mud
🗺️ Distribution
Europe, temperate Asia; common in still water, ponds and slow rivers in France.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Floating yellow flowers rich in nectar and pollen, visited by water beetles and bees.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Ponds and water features, floating aquatic plant contributing to shade and water balance.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Slightly toxic (alkaloids) if eaten, limited traditional use in herbal medicine.
🌿 Other Nymphaeaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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