Patterns are everywhere in the natural world. At the Missouri Botanical Garden, we are exploring these patterns through Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO, on display through September 26. We also encourage visitors to look for patterns in the Garden’s living plant collection. This blog post explores aquatic plants, which can feature unique patterns on leaves and flowers.
The Missouri Botanical Garden is home to an expansive aquatic plant collection. The Garden produces on average 400 aquatic plants a year, including more than 125 different cultivars and species of water lilies, and display up to 10 Victoria water lilies in the outdoor pools.
Patterns in Water Lilies
Waterlilies are in the family Nymphaea. The genus name comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning means “water lily” inspired by the nymphs of Latin and Greek mythology. Water lilies can be found in pools throughout the Garden including in Linnean Plaza, the Central Axis in front of the Climatron, and in the George Washington Carver Garden. Scroll through to see some beautiful patterns of this collection.
Victoria Amazonica
Nymphaea ‘Nangkwag Blue’
Egyptian blue water lily, Nymphaea caerulea
Nymphaea ‘St. Louis’
Nymphaea ‘Henry Shaw’
Nymphaea ‘Tuonta’
Nymphaea ‘Awesome’
Nymphaea ‘Southern Charm’
Nymphaea thermarum
Patterns in Other Aquatic Plants
Other aquatic plants, like the aptly named mosaic plant, feature brilliant patterns in leaves, flowers, and even seed receptacles.
Sacred Lotus
Mosaic Plant, Ludwigia sedoides
Water Lettuce, Pistia stratiotes
Water canna, Thalia dealbata
Catherine Martin
Senior Public Information Officer
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