Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) Nuphar lutea
Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) (Nuphar lutea) is a deciduous perennial flowering plant in the Nymphaeaceae family, native to Europe, N Africa and Asia (lakes, slow rivers). It grows 5–15 cm (2–6 in) tall and 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about -35 °C (-31 °F). Space plants about 1.3 m (4.3 ft) apart.
Plan Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Nymphaeaceae |
| Mature height | 5–15 cm (2–6 in) |
| Mature spread | 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.3 m (4.3 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -35 °C (-31 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 9–13 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Europe, N Africa and Asia (lakes, slow rivers) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇷🇺 Russia |
Is Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: rhizome
Contains nupharine alkaloids; not for eating.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
See Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden (2 plants)
- Monet’s gardens at Giverny (3 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (3 plants)
Questions about Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle)
- How far apart should I plant Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle)?
- About 1.3 m (4.3 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft).
- Does Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle)?
- It tolerates about -35 °C (-31 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- When does Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) flower?
- From about June for 9–13 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Contains nupharine alkaloids; not for eating.
- What grows well with Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Yellow pond lily (brandy bottle). Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Wildflowers and meadows, Plantlife (UK)
Notes and assumptions
- Grown in a pond: rhizome or tuber in a basket of heavy loam at the stated depth; needs full sun and still water.
- Tolerates shade and moving water better than Nymphaea; small globe flowers smell of brandy.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- European white water lily Nymphaea alba
- Hardy water lily (Marliac hybrids) Nymphaea × marliacea
- Fragrant water lily Nymphaea odorata
- Blue water lily (blue lotus of Egypt) Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
- White Egyptian lotus (tiger lotus) Nymphaea lotus
- Giant Amazon water lily Victoria amazonica
- Santa Cruz water lily Victoria cruziana
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus