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| ## yellow pond-lily {#yellow-pond-lily .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Nuphar lutea* (L.) Sm.                                               |
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| Plant Symbol = NULU                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plants Data Center

### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="1.7708333333333333in" height="2.6972222222222224in"}

##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

Brandy-bottle, bullhead lily, *Nuphar variegatum*, spatterdock, yellow
cowlily.

*Nuphar lutea* is divided into many subspecies. Comparisons of
morphological features and interpretations of molecular analysis
indicate the name *Nuphar lutea* should not be used for any North
American *Nuphar* members. The genus *Nuphar* is now represented by
*eight* distinct species in North America. A key to this new
classification is provided in *Flora of North America*, volume 3, by
Kartesz (1997) and *Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North
America*, volume 1, by Crow and Hellquist (2000).

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Ethnobotanic:* Native Americans consumed the starchy rootstocks as
boiled or roasted vegetables and harvested the seed for grinding into
flour. There are some accounts of the root being powdered and used as a
poultice.

*Wildlife:* Yellow pond-lily provides food and shelter for many fish and
underwater insects.

*Ornamental:* Yellow pond-lily flowers and leaves are showy and
fragrant. For this reason, it is used as an ornamental planting in water
gardens and ponds.

##### Legal Status {#legal-status .Header-3}

Yellow pond-lily is a noxious aquatic weed in Puerto Rico. Please
consult the PLANTS Web site (http://plants.usda.gov) and your State
Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status (e.g.
threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland
indicator values).

##### Weediness {#weediness .Header-3}

This plant may become weedy in some regions or habitats and may displace
desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your
local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state
natural resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use.
Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at
plants.usda.gov.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Water Lily Family (Nymphaeaceae). Yellow pond-lily is an
aquatic perennial that grows to be 15 to 60 cm in height and spreads 1
to 2 m on the water surface. Spongy rhizomes anchor into the muddy
bottom of a water body and give rise to long, stout stems. Submerged
leaves are thin and attached to the rhizomes. Floating leaves are thick,
somewhat heart-shaped, wavy along the margins, have up to a 40 cm
spread, and are attached to the stems. Flowers emerge on separate stem
stalks. They are cup-shaped, yellow-green, with small scale-like petals
and numberous stamens and stigmas hidden within the thick showy sepals.
Flowers bloom from May to October, partially opening in the morning and
closing at night. Spent flowers give way to seed heads that burst upon
ripening, broadcasting their seeds over the water surface. Flowers and
leaf stems die back to the rhizome in autumn.

Yellow pond-lily may be confused with water lily, *Nymphaea* species,
which have rounder leaves and showier pink to white flowers.

*Distribution*: Yellow pond-lily is native to the Eastern United States,
Africa, Temperate Asia, the West Indies, and Europe. It is naturalized
in most temperate regions of North America. It occurs in all 50 states
except Hawaii. For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site
(http://plants.usda.gov).

*Habitat*: Yellow pond-lily occurs in slow-moving streams, still ponds,
and lakes.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

The USDA hardiness zones for yellow pond-lily are 4 to 10. It grows in
wet, poor sandy soils and performs best in 1 to 3 feet of water in full
sun to part shade. It is more tolerant of shade and deep water than
*Nymphaea* species.

It is more often used in large water gardens and ponds where it can
produce underwater stems that grow up to 2 m long and can slowly spread
to form sizeable colonies.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

Yellow pond-lily should be grown in containers if they are used for
water gardens. For natural ponds, plant rhizomes directly in the muddy
bottom if naturalization is desired.

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

##### Seeds are produced and deposited on the water surface, where they are carried to a germination spot. Yellow pond-lily reproduces more readily by spreading rhizomes.  {#seeds-are-produced-and-deposited-on-the-water-surface-where-they-are-carried-to-a-germination-spot.-yellow-pond-lily-reproduces-more-readily-by-spreading-rhizomes. .Header-3}

##### Control {#control .Header-3}

Although this plant is not considered invasive, it is very difficult to
eradicate when not grown in containers because any section of rhizome
left behind may sprout new growth.

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county
weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it
safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control
method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to
provide specific information. The USDA NRCS does not guarantee or
warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may
be equally effective.

### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

**References**

Agricultural Research Center. 2004. *GRIN taxonomy*
(http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/index, 30 July 2004). USDA,
Beltsville.

Bayne, D. 2000. *Aquaplant database*
(http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/default.htm, 30 July 2004). Texas Cooperative
Extension, Texas A&M University, College Station.

##### Connecticut Botanical Society. 2004. *Yellow pond-lily* (http://www.ct-botanicalsociety.org/galleries/ nupharlute.html, 30 July 2004). New Haven. {#connecticut-botanical-society.-2004.-yellow-pond-lily-httpwww.ct-botanicalsociety.orggalleries-nupharlute.html-30-july-2004.-new-haven. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### Kemper Center for Home Gardening. 2004. *Kemper web, PlantFinder* (http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/Alpha.asp, 30 July 2004). Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. {#kemper-center-for-home-gardening.-2004.-kemper-web-plantfinder-httpridgwaydb.mobot.orgkemperwebplantfinderalpha.asp-30-july-2004.-missouri-botanical-garden-st.-louis. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-2 .Header-3}

##### Ramey, V. and A. Murray. 2002. *Aquatic Plant Information Retrieval System (APIRS)* (http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/welcome.html, 30 July 2004). Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida, Gainesville. {#ramey-v.-and-a.-murray.-2002.-aquatic-plant-information-retrieval-system-apirs-httpaquat1.ifas.ufl.eduwelcome.html-30-july-2004.-center-for-aquatic-and-invasive-plants-university-of-florida-gainesville. .Header-3}

#####  {#section-3 .Header-3}

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

*Sarah Wennerberg*

Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Mark Skinner*

##### USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana {#usda-nrcs-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-louisiana .Header-3}

##### Edited: 3Aug2004 sbw; 20Oct2004 rln; 060802 jsp {#edited-3aug2004-sbw-20oct2004-rln-060802-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*