Water lilies are aquatic plants that grow in fresh water. It prefers a quiet water body like pond, lake and marshes where there is no water current. They belong to the Nymphaeaceae family. The beautiful, showy water lily flowers are found in a wide range of varieties. The most common color of water lily is white, but it can be found in many other colors like pink, purple, yellow, orange, burgundy and so on. Most varieties of the flower open its petals in the morning and closes up in the evening. However, a few of its varieties bloom only during the night. In the next section, we have provided various information including the water lily meaning. Water Lily Information The scientific name of water lily is Nymphaea. This is obtained from the Greek word 'nymph', which according to Greek mythology means supernatural feminine that inhabited in water bodies like springs. It is true that water lilies are delicate flowers and are found in water. Thus we can say that this water lily meaning is absolutely relevant. From the historical evidence found in ancient strata, it is believed that the origin of water lily is in South America. However, today, a large variety of hybrid water lilies of different colors are grown in various parts of the world. Basically, it is native to temperate climates. In extreme climate conditions, the foliage tend to die off, but the root continues to survive in the soil. On the other hand, in tropical or subtropical climates, water lily may even bloom during the winters. When we look at a water lily, it seems that it has grown from the surface of the water itself. Though the fact is that the flower is just floating at the top of the water body and its actual root is attached to the mucky soil at the bottom. In other words, it actually grows inside the water. It has a fleshy, rhizome root system that can grow as deep as 6-7 feet and spread horizontally up to 15 feet. It produces a long stalk that enable the leaves and flowers to remain in floated condition on the water surface. The water lily flower consist of a multiple number of petals with a golden stamen at its center and is around 5 inches in diameter. The new flower shoots start appearing in the month of April. However, the blooming actually starts in June and continues till September. On an average, a water lily flower lives up to five days. When the flower is at a young stage, the stamen is straight and with aging of the flower, it folds and curls into the water lily. sympathy flowers The stamen is the organ that holds the pollen of the flower. Once the flower dies, the plant pulls down the flower stem into the water. Water lily can be easily grown as an ornamental plant in small garden ponds. Plant the tuber of water lily into a container and submerge the pot into the water. For proper growth, it requires a lot of sun. If you live in an area where the water body is likely to freeze in the winter, then you should take out the water lilies from the water, wrap them up in plastic and store them. With the onset of spring, you can again put them back into the water. Apart from color and beauty, planting water lily in the water gardens has several other advantages as well. The shade provided by the water lily to the water prevent growth of algae in the water and thus keep it clean. Moreover, it protects various small fishes and aquatic animals living in the water from their predators. Read more on: Casablanca Lily Meaning Symbolism of the Lily The water lily has its own spiritual and aesthetic value to mankind. It has been used widely in various paintings since the ancient civilizations. Famous French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840-1926) used water lily as an object in his oil paintings of water lily series to express his emotional response towards the environment. More recently, water lily tattoos are extremely popular among women all over the world. In the context of a tattoo, water lily meaning portrays purity of heart.