Eastern USA, eastern Canada, Mexico and Cuba; naturalised in Britain
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
100 cm
Temperature
4–24°C
pH
6–8
Care level
intermediate
Lighting
High light or full sun
Flow
Still to slow flow
Care
Spatterdock is a North American yellow pond-lily of ponds, lakes, marshes and slow rivers. The list spells it Nuphar advenum; Nuphar advena is the accepted spelling. It grows from a thick, spongy rhizome (5–10 cm across) and most of its leaves stand above the water, with others floating or submerged. Submerged leaves are about 12–40 cm long. Small yellow-green flowers up to about 4 cm across are followed by fleshy fruit full of seeds. It is a pond plant. Young plants can be kept briefly in a large tank for their submerged leaves, but they grow too big and need a winter rest. As a temperate plant it suits ponds and large coldwater setups and does poorly in warm tropical tanks. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nupharadvena); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.
Breeding
Divide the rhizome in spring, keeping a growing point on each piece. It also seeds freely.
Compatibility and tank mates
Tough, leathery leaves are mostly left alone by pond fish; koi may dig around the rhizome. Not suitable for tropical tanks.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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