Nymphaea stellata

Nymphaea stellata is a tropical day-blooming water lily native to India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, where it colonises warm, shallow lakes, ponds, and rice paddies. The floating pads are rounded to slightly oval, mid-to-dark green on the upper surface with a distinctive reddish-purple underside, and the star-shaped flowers are pale blue to soft violet with bright yellow stamens. The blooms are smaller than those of N. caerulea but produced in great abundance over a long season.

This is one of the most adaptable of the tropical blue water lilies, tolerating a somewhat wider range of water conditions than many of its relatives. It is suitable for medium-sized heated ponds, tub water gardens, and large open-top aquariums. In aquarium conditions without strong overhead light the plant will remain primarily vegetative — floating pads and submerged leaves — without flowering.

N. stellata benefits from a nutrient-rich growing medium and prefers warm temperatures throughout the year. In cooler climates it can be overwintered indoors in a heated aquarium to prevent tuber dormancy and loss.

Light: High (strong direct or artificial light essential for flowering). CO2: Not required; beneficial for vegetative growth under aquarium conditions. Fertilisation: Aquatic root tabs every 6–8 weeks; supplemental liquid feed during active growth phase. Placement: Open water surface in a pond or large open-top tank; water depth 20–50 cm ideal. Propagation: Division of rhizome side branches; may also produce seed after cross-pollination.