Victoria amazonica
Native to South America (Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and Perú), V. amazonica
Named for Queen Victoria, the giant water platter Victoria was first known to the world in l801.All Victorias are night blooming, scenting the afternoon and evening air with their pineapple-like fragrance in anticipation of the first night flower, huge and white. The second night cruziana flower is delicately flushed pink. V. amazonica becomes cotton candy pink to ruby red depending on the individual plant.The pads are maroon/bronze when they first reach the water's surface to bronze/green as they age, with rims just slightly upturned in young plants and low rims in mature adults. Buds are squat with numerous thorns on the dark maroon sepals.