Nymphaea pubescens, commonly called the hairy water lily or pink water-lily, is a floating aquatic plant in the family Nymphaeaceae. It belongs to the genus Nymphaea and is recognized for its showy, often rose-tinted flowers and leaves borne on long stalks above a pad of floating blades.

Description

This perennial aquatic produces round to oval leaves that float on the water surface; their petioles and leaf undersides may show a fine hairiness from which the species name pubescens is derived. Flowers open above the leaves and range in color from pale pink to deeper rose, sometimes appearing nearly white. Individual blooms typically last for a few days and are followed by submerged fruit that release many small seeds.

Distribution and habitat

Nymphaea pubescens is native to tropical and subtropical parts of South and Southeast Asia. It grows in still or slow-moving freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches and calm river margins, favoring shallow depths where leaves can float and roots establish in soft sediment.

Uses and cultivation

The species is widely cultivated for ornamental water gardens and public ponds because of its attractive flowers and tolerance of warm climates. It is propagated by division of rhizomes or by seed. Gardeners typically plant it in containers sunk into pond bottoms to control spread and to facilitate maintenance.

  • Plant in full sun for best flowering.
  • Use a nutrient-rich but contained substrate.
  • Keep water depth moderate; remove excessive foliage to reduce decay.

In some regions Nymphaea species are also used in traditional remedies or as a local food source; such uses vary by culture and should be approached with local knowledge and caution.

Water-lilies of the genus Nymphaea feature prominently in art and symbolism across Asia. The white or blue water-lily known locally as shapla is widely cited as a national floral symbol in Bangladesh; similar free-floating Nymphaea species appear in ceremonial and iconographic contexts. N. pubescens itself is not generally rare across its range but local populations can be affected by habitat loss, pollution and invasive plants. It can be distinguished from other regional species by the fine pubescence on petioles and by its typical pink flower tones, though color and form vary and overlap among related taxa.