From Amazon to Windsor: The Water Lily Tale
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
November 13, 1849
On this day, a most extraordinary presentation took place at Windsor Castle.
Queen Victoria, known for her love of botanical wonders, was about to encounter her magnificent namesake - the Victoria Amazonica (vik-TOR-ee-ah am-uh-ZON-ih-kuh).
Imagine, if you will, standing in the grand halls of Windsor Castle as Joseph Paxton (PAX-ton) presented a massive leaf and exquisite blossom to the Queen.
The moment was so moving that Her Majesty enthusiastically declared, "We are immensely pleased."
Such a British understatement for what was indeed one of the most remarkable plants ever cultivated in England!
The story of this royal water lily reads like a botanical fairy tale.
Picture the scene at Chatsworth, where the brilliant Joseph Paxton created what can only be described as a South American river in miniature.
His dedication to replicating the plant's natural habitat - installing a small waterwheel to mimic the Amazon's gentle current - speaks to the extraordinary lengths Victorian gardeners would go to nurture their green treasures.
Early historical records showed the water lily could grow 647 square inches daily.
Just imagine - that's nearly four and a half square feet of growth in hours. Mother Nature's engineering at its finest!
But the most enchanting chapter of this story unfolds the following week when Paxton orchestrates what must have been a magical moment.
As recorded, Paxton brought his seven-year-old daughter, Annie, to work with him. He had her dress up as a fairy queen and then placed her on a water lily pad in the Victoria pool at Chatsworth.
Can you picture this scene?
A young girl, dressed whimsically, stands safely atop a lily pad that would later inspire one of the most iconic buildings of the Victorian era—the Crystal Palace. It is an extraordinary image.
The native Tupi Indians of South America shared a haunting legend about these magnificent blooms. They believed the water lily flowers were sacred vessels for the soul of a chieftain's daughter. To end her unrequited love for the moon god, she walked into the water and drowned herself. To the Tupi Indians, the blossoms of the water lily represented love and rejection, life and death—such significant symbolism in a flower that lives just two days.
The water lily's blooming cycle is a testament to nature's poetry.
The white blossom blushes from pink to reddish-purple in a single day. In the evening, as dusk falls, the flower releases a captivating fragrance - reminiscent of a mix of butterscotch and pineapple.
What garden enthusiast wouldn't dream of witnessing such a spectacular display?
Today, these magnificent plants continue to captivate visitors at botanical gardens worldwide.
At Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, Victoria Amazonica thrives in water kept at a toasty 85 degrees Fahrenheit - a temperature that would make any spa enthusiast envious. The hybrids developed there serve as living works of art that grace public gardens throughout the summer months.
As we reflect on this remarkable plant's journey from the Amazon to Windsor Castle and eventually to public gardens worldwide, we're reminded of the extraordinary dedication of Victorian horticulturists like Joseph Paxton. Their passion for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cultivation has given us the privilege of experiencing these magnificent water lilies today.
