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Santa Cruz water lilies

Santa Cruz water lily

Santa Cruz water lilypads can grow up to 2 metres wide. The huge leaves help the plant win the competition for sunlight. They can sometimes be found in the pond in the Tropical South America section at the heart of our Rainforest Biome.

Botanical description

Scientific name: Victoria cruziana
Family: Nymphaeaceae (water lily)

Giant aquatic herb found in South America. Leaves up to 2m in diameter, green colour with a small layer of fine hairs on underside. Flowers floating, large, up to 1m in diameter; petals white becoming pink or red. Fruits large, prickly, berry-like with many seeds. Seeds measure 1cm. Pollinated by Cylocephata castaneal beetle.

Explore the plant

Waterfall and pond in Rainforest Biome at Eden Project

1

The hollow veins in the huge leaves give strength and buoyancy.

Santa Cruz water lily bud

2

The bud opens into a white flower in the early evening and is scented to attract and temporarily trap a beetle (Cylocephata castaneal) that pollinates the plant.

Water lily flower

3

The flower turns pink or red the following day and lowers back into the water.

Where it grows

Slow moving waters in north Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia.