Spatter-dock
Nuphar advena
Last reviewed: August 2026
Spatter-dock (Nuphar advena) is an aquatic forb with rounded yellow flowers that rise above the water from May through September. It grows rooted in mud in ponds, marshes and slow-moving streams across much of the eastern and central United States.
Toxicity unknown
Spatter-dock (Nuphar advena) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
high
Size
12"–48" H × 24"–60" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 24 more states
Pollinators
beetles, flies
Before you buy
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Spatter-dock is an aquatic native perennial that grows in ponds, slow streams, and wetland edges. It produces distinctive yellow cup-shaped flowers from late spring through early fall above large heart-shaped floating leaves. This plant requires consistent standing water or very wet soil conditions to thrive.
Growing Spatter-dock
Grow Spatter-dock in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 60 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Spatter-dock takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Requires pond or water feature
- Aquatic growth habit unsuitable for typical landscaping
- Can spread aggressively in water bodies
Wildlife value
The flowers attract beetles and flies for pollination, while the seeds and rhizomes provide food for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.
Common questions
- When does spatterdock bloom?
- Spatterdock typically flowers from May into September, with solitary yellow, cup-shaped blooms held just above the water surface.
- What pollinates spatterdock flowers?
- Beetles and flies are the main pollinators, visiting the flowers for their pollen and fruity scent.
- What growing conditions does spatterdock need?
- It needs standing or slow-moving fresh water, such as ponds, lake margins and quiet streams, with roots anchored in soft mud and leaves floating or standing above the surface.
- Does spatterdock stay green year round?
- No. Its leaves die back as temperatures drop, so the plant is best described as deciduous rather than evergreen.
- Is Spatter-dock HOA-friendly?
- Spatter-dock takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Spatter-dock? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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