Water lily, also called pond lily, is the popular name for various beautiful water plants that grow in both temperate and hot climates. Water lilies send their long, stout leaf and flower stalks up from the mud bottom of clear, shallow water. Their narrow to round green leaves usually are seen floating on the surface of the water but may also be submerged. The flowers are usually raised above the water on long flower stalks. The white-flowered water lily is the most common. The flowers may be as large as 1 foot (30 centimeters) across. Some of the water lilies bloom during the day and others during the night. The water lily is the flower for the month of July.

Scientific classification. Water lilies belong to the water lily family, Nymphaeaceae. The most common white water lily of the Eastern United States is Nymphia ordorata.