Victoria water lily is native to quiet shallow waters in tropical South America, including the backwaters of the Amazon River. It is a rhizomatous, floating-leaf, tender aquatic perennial that is noted for the huge size of its yellow-green leaves (4-6 feet in diameter). Flowers bloom at night (open at dusk and close by noon), but each flower typically lasts only 2-3 days. Flowers open white but turn pinkish to rose-purple on the second to third days as they age.