Nymphaea mexicana
Yellow or banana waterlily, Yellow Or Banana Waterlily
(c) Paulo Martins, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Nymphaeaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Nymphaea mexicana (Yellow or banana waterlily) is a non-native California herb in the Nymphaeaceae family, recognized by distinctive yellow flowers separate it from all other waterlilies.
Yellow or banana waterlily is a naturalized perennial found in the San Joaquin Valley in lakes, ponds, and slow streams at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces large yellow flowers 6 to 11 centimeters wide with 12 to 30 petals floating on or emerging from water surfaces. Growing with erect, unbranched rhizomes, it develops large leaf blades 7 to 14 centimeters wide, ranging from ovate to nearly round. Its leaves spread across water surfaces in broad, flat planes, creating distinctive circular green platforms. The fruit is ovoid, measuring 2 to 2.5 centimeters long, with small seeds approximately 4 to 5 millimeters in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated in SnJV; distinctive yellow flowers separate it from all other waterlilies
Habitat and range
Habitat: Lakes, ponds, slow streams
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to southeastern United States, Mexico
Bloom period
Nymphaea mexicana blooms Apr-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Nuphar: Nymphaea flowers spread flat and open wide; Nuphar flowers are cup-shaped and stay partly closed.; vs Nelumbo: Nymphaea leaves float flat on water with a notch; lotus leaves rise high above water on central stalks.; vs Brasenia: Nymphaea leaves have a V-notch and never slimy; Brasenia leaves attach at center and have thick slime underneath.; vs Victoria: Nymphaea leaves are under 2 feet wide with smooth edges; Victoria leaves are 3+ feet wide with raised rim.; vs Punica: Nymphaea is aquatic with floating leaves; pomegranate is a terrestrial woody shrub.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nymphaea mexicana native to California?
No. Nymphaea mexicana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Nymphaea mexicana bloom?
Nymphaea mexicana blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Nymphaea mexicana belong to?
Nymphaea mexicana is in the Nymphaeaceae family, genus Nymphaea.
What habitat does Nymphaea mexicana grow in?
Nymphaea mexicana grows in Lakes, ponds, slow streams.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.