Birthday
HydrangeasYou can feel like Thumbelina in a glasshouse with a Victoria, the largest water lily in the world. Its round, rimmed leaves reach three metres across and can hold the weight of a child, and its huge flowers change colour from white to pink over two nights. Here is how the giant water lily was discovered, how it works and where you can see it.
How it was discovered
The first European to see the giant water lily in South America is thought to be the Bohemian naturalist Tadeáš Haenke, around 1801. In 1832 the German botanist Eduard Poeppig described it from the Amazon, but the plant became famous after Robert Schomburgk's expedition to British Guiana in 1837. He proposed naming it after Queen Victoria, who had just come to the throne. That gave us the name Victoria regia, later replaced by Victoria amazonica.
In 1849 the gardener Joseph Paxton became the first to make a Victoria flower in an English glasshouse, and the rigid ribs of its leaf inspired his design for the famous Crystal Palace.
How the leaf works
Victoria leaves grow 2–3 m across. The upturned rim keeps water off the leaf, and underneath it is supported by a network of strong ribs with air spaces. The undersides of the leaves, the stalks and the buds are covered in sharp spines that protect the plant from fish and other animals. If the weight is spread evenly on a board, a leaf can hold about 40 kg — which is why botanical gardens sometimes photograph children sitting on them.
An extraordinary flower
A Victoria flower, up to 30–40 cm across, lives for just two nights. On the first evening it opens white, smells of pineapple and warms up to attract pollinating beetles. By morning it closes, trapping the beetles inside. On the second night it turns pink or crimson, releases the pollen-covered beetles and then sinks below the water.
Victoria species
- Victoria amazonica — grows in the Amazon basin and the rivers of Guyana.
- Victoria cruziana — native to Paraguay and Argentina, more tolerant of cool conditions and more often grown in glasshouses.
- Victoria boliviana — described by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2022. Its leaves reach 3 m or more, making it the largest water lily species.
The legend of the water star
A Tupi-Guarani legend tells of a girl named Naia who dreamed of becoming a star and rising to the Moon. One night she saw the Moon's reflection in the water, leapt towards it and drowned. Moved by her love, the Moon turned Naia into the "star of the waters" — a beautiful flower that opens only at night.
Can you grow a Victoria?
In the wild Victoria is a perennial, but in cultivation it is usually grown as an annual in large, heated glasshouse pools: the water needs to be around 28–32 °C, with lots of light and rich soil. It isn't suitable for garden ponds in Ukraine. For a flowering pond, choose hardy water lilies (Nymphaea) — read our article on flowers that grow on water.
FAQ
How big is a Victoria leaf?
Usually 2–3 m across; Victoria boliviana leaves can exceed 3 m.
How much weight can a Victoria leaf hold?
About 40 kg if the load is spread evenly.
Love water flowers? Read about the meaning of the lotus flower, and order a bouquet with delivery in Kyiv from UFL any time.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
