Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Amaryllidaceae · bulbs
Nymphaea spp.
Nymphaeaceae · aquatic
Daffodil (Zones 3-8)
Water Lily (Zones 3-11)
Overlap: Both grow in zones 3–8
| Feature | Daffodil | Water Lily |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Narcissus pseudonarcissus | Nymphaea spp. |
| Family | Amaryllidaceae | Nymphaeaceae |
| Category | bulbs | aquatic |
| Sun | ☀️ Full Sun to Part Shade | ☀️ Full Sun |
| Water | 💧💧 Medium | 💧 Aquatic |
| Soil | Well-drained | Pond/Water garden |
| Height | 1' 6" | 6" |
| Spread | 6" | 4' |
| Bloom Season | Early Spring | Summer |
| Bloom Color | Yellow, White, Orange | White, Pink, Yellow, Red |
| Growth Rate | Medium | Medium |
| Native Region | Europe | Worldwide |
| Maintenance | Low | Medium |
Daffodil
Water Lily
Daffodil
Water Lily
Choose Daffodil if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun to part shade with medium water in zones 3–8.
Choose Water Lily if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with aquatic water in zones 3–11.
Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 3–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.
Explore More Data Tools
For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.