Fragrant Water Lily

(Nymphaea odorata)

Description

• Easily recognizable aquatic plant that can be found floating on the surface of shallow lakes, ponds and slow moving water
• Beautiful large symmetrical flower with prominent yellow stamens and many white or occasionally pink petals
• Flowers are very fragrant and appear from June to September, opening each morning & closing again each night
• Flowers are surrounded by large (25 cm across) round, smooth waxy leaves that are often purple on the lower surface
• Leaves are attached to flexible stalks attached to thick fleshy rhizomes
• Fruit is a capsule 1-2 cm in diameter and contains many seeds
• Reproduces by both seed and rhizomes

  

   

Consequences of Invasion

• Shallow lakes are vulnerable to being completely covered by fragrant water lily. A planted rhizome will cover a 5 m diameter in 5 years. The fast growing aquatic plant can easily create dense infestations choking out native plants.
• Decreases the value of water front property because it can restrict lake front access if left unmanaged.
• Reduces water based recreation opportunities.
• Creates hazardous swimming, it has been attributed to some drowning incidents.

 How’s it introduced?  How does it spread?

• Extremely popular water garden plant due to its beauty and it’s not difficult to grow.
• The plant can still easily be purchased at nurseries and mail order catalogs.
• People un-knowingly transplant a water lily to a friend’s property, favorite swimming hole or their own backyard.
• Pet and aquarium owners dumping/releasing their aquarium plants and animals into the wild.
• Improper disposal of garden waste.

  

 Integrated Pest Management Options

• Prevention: Choose non-invasive or native plants for your water garden.
• Prevention: Properly dispose of invasive garden waste. Bag waste and transport to landfill for FREE.
• Prevention: Do not transplant fragrant water lily from one location to another.
• Prevention: Don’t Let it Loose! Dispose of your aquarium plants in a responsible way.
• Cultural: Small infestations may be controlled by covering with a thick dark fabric that blocks out the light.
• Cultural: Carbohydrate depletion, as the leaves begin to emerge during growing season faithfully removing all of them. Requires time and patience as it can take 2-3 years to kill the plants.
• Mechanical: Cutting and harvesting the plant does have some level of success if done several times a year. Removing and proper disposal of the rhizome is the key to success.
• Mechanical: Excavation can be successful in control of invasive water lilies. Please note that you must complete an “Application for Work in and About a Stream” prior to any excavation work can begin otherwise fines may occur.
• Biocontrol: There are no effective biological control agents available for invasive water lilies.
• Chemical: Herbicides are not permitted in water bodies.