Leaves circular in outline, the basal lobes parallel or diverging, all floating. Flowers white with a male of pale yellow anthers 10 to 20 cm held at water level and with 20 or more petals. Fragrant and with rounded buds.

Coloured Water-lily (N x marliacea) is very similar, but petals with at least a tinge of colour

Pure white flowers

This cannot be verified when not in flower, due to similar hybrid species, Nymphaea x marliacea.

If possible, please add a comment to note whether the specimen appears to have been planted or is regenerating (i.e. propagating by itself).

Lakes and ponds, slow moving rivers and still water rooting in muddy bottoms to a depth of 3 metres.

July and August.

Perennial, sometimes planted.

Widespread but occasional in Britain.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Flora of Leicestershire published in 1988 states that it occurred in 15 of the 617 tetrads.

In the current checklist (Jeeves 2011), it is listed as subspecies alba; Alien (Neophyte); occasional.