American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) is in the Waterlily Family family (Nymphaeaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,701 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph American white waterlily: observations by month (U.S.)
About American white waterlily
Nymphaea odorata, also known as the American white waterlily, fragrant water-lily, beaver root, fragrant white water lily, white water lily, sweet-scented white water lily, and sweet-scented water lily, is an aquatic plant belonging to the genus Nymphaea. It can commonly be found in shallow lakes, ponds, and permanent slow moving waters throughout North America where it ranges from Central America to northern Canada. It is also reported from Brazil and Guyana.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American white waterlily by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 378 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Florida | 326 | April | Mar–Jul |
| New York | 319 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Vermont | 313 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 246 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 236 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Jersey | 180 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Michigan | 169 | July | Jun–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 169 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 167 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Mississippi | 151 | May | Apr–Sep |
| Maine | 142 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 122 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Ohio | 114 | June | May–Sep |
| Alabama | 95 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Maryland | 73 | June | May–Sep |
| Illinois | 61 | August | Jun–Aug |
| North Carolina | 61 | June | May–Aug |
| Texas | 58 | May | May–Sep |
| South Carolina | 52 | April | Mar–Oct |
| Washington | 50 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 40 | August | May–Sep |
| Connecticut | 32 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Louisiana | 32 | April | Mar–Sep |
| Virginia | 28 | August | May–Aug |
| Oregon | 20 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 16 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 7 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Missouri | 6 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Kentucky | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Montana | 5 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Tennessee | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American white waterlily?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to August.
Where is American white waterlily most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Florida, New York.