Nuphar lutea, the yellow water-lily, or brandy-bottle, is an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia.
Nuphar lutea, commonly called yellow pond lily or spatterdock, is a water lily-like hardy perennial commonly found in ponds, stream borders and sloughs. It is used in water gardens less than Nymphea (water lily) primarily because its flowers (2” diameter) are much smaller and much less ornamental. However, it has the advantage over Nymphea of being able to tolerate more shade and deeper water. It is more often used in large water gardens and ponds where it can develop underwater stems to as much as 6’ long and slowly spread to form sizeable colonies. Leaves and flowers emerge on separate stalks from thick underground rhizomes. Flat, leathery, oval/heart-shaped, lilypad-like leaves (to 16” long) either stand erect above the water or float on the water surface. Submerged ruffled cabbage-like leaves are smaller. Fragrant globular cup-shaped greenish-yellow flowers appear from May to October. Each flower partially opens in the morning and closes at night, lasting about 4-5 days.
