Nymphaea × rosea

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Nymphaea × rosea is a complex waterlily hybrid with unclear identity. It is thought to be an artificial cross of Nymphaea lotus, Nymphaea pubescens, and Nymphaea rubra. It grows as a perennial aquatic plant with thick rhizomes. Its leaves are large and bronze-red to bronze-green, up to 35 cm long and 32 cm wide, with hairy stalks.

The flowers are pink to rose, fragrant at night or sometimes not fragrant, and up to 18 cm across. The plant has many stamens (50–80) and 16–20 carpels. The seeds are ellipsoid with pink ridges.

History: It was first named Nymphaea rubra var. rosea by John Sims in 1811. In 1826, Robert Sweet treated it as a separate hybrid, Nymphaea × rosea. Sometimes only Sweet is credited as the author. Some sources say it is a synonym of Nymphaea rubra or of Nymphaea pubescens. It belongs to the subgenus Lotos.

The name rosea means rose-colored. It occurs in Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is used in water gardens.