Santa Cruz Waterlily is one of two species in this genus and is non-viviparous, meaning that the seeds do not develop before they detach from the parent plant.  This night blooming specimen has a wide spread of 15-18 ft. The lily pads are up to 6.5 feet wide and the large blooms are fragrant and many. It requires shallow, quiet water such as the backwaters of large river systems. Grow as an annual in NC without winter protection. It requires a large water garden.

The seeds from this plant require that they be kept in water.  Allowing them to dry out is a sure death of the seed.  Each plant requires approximately 40 inches of water to perform at its best.

 Only opening for two consecutive nights, the pineapple like scented flower will be white during the first night, and a purple-red the second night.  The flowers are considered to be thermogenic, in that they create their own heat while they are budding,  That allows the plant to more efficiently release its fragrance to surrounding beetles once opened.   As the flower opens, it will rise above the water surface.  After opening, the flower will slip below the water surface.  Each flower has several whorls of petals and stamens that are arranged in a spiral.  A typical plant can have as many as 50 flowers each summer.