When managed to form a patchy distribution interspersed with open water, waterlilies can provide excellent habitat. It is believed that the fragrant waterlily was introduced into Washington during the Alaska Pacific Yukon Exposition held in Seattle in the late 1800s. Waterlily culture in the western hemisphere began in 1786 when Nymphaea sp. was first introduced into the large estates and botanic gardens of England. The flowers appear from June to September. Each blossom opens in the morning and closes in the early afternoon for two to five consecutive days.
Pollination is performed mainly by beetles, but bees have also been observed visiting the flowers.
The plant senesces in the fall and overwinters as the rhizome. The fragrant waterlily reproduces through both seeds and rhizome spread. Nymphaea rhizomes can be cut into 10 cm or larger pieces for propagation. Response to Herbicides Westerdahl and Getsinger report excellent control of the fragrant waterlily with glyphosate. Good control was obtained with endothall dipotassium salt and fluridone.