Hardy Water Lily

is a plant with large white flowers and leaves that float on water. Leafstalks and stalks of flowers grow from underground creeping rhizome. The blade of floating leaves is 20–30 cm long and 17–27 cm wide, on the lower side usually red or reddish. Flower buds have an elongated tip. Space for air is created inside leaves and leafstalks. Before the water surface freezes over, flowers develop into fruits that release seeds wintering underwater. Leaves die in the autumn, the rhizome with roots winter in the mud.