Phipps Stories
Waterlily Weigh-Off in Wonderland
Phipps' Victoria Room has been home to wonderful waterlilies all summer long. Read on to learn about how strong these specimens can be when put to the test!
Started by Denver Botanic Gardens in 2023, the annual Waterlily Weigh-Off challenges participants to determine whose waterlilies can support the most weight before sinking. The competition is open to public gardens, zoos, nurseries and home growers. The 2026 Weigh-Off took place across social media from Aug. 17 – 28, with the winner announced on Aug. 28.
To enter, participants grow the largest and strongest Victoria waterlily they can, test how much weight it can hold and share the results on social media. Since its inception, the competition has only grown larger and more competitive! In 2023, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, won with a waterlily that supported 96 pounds. Last year, Bok Tower Gardens claimed the title with a remarkable 183 pounds.
The 2026 Weigh-Off drew more than 50 participants from eight countries, including Phipps! Our horticulture team grew a waterlily measuring 53.5 inches in diameter. During the test, team members carefully placed dumbbells on the leaf until it supported a grand total of 163 pounds!
On Aug. 28, Bok Tower Gardens was named the winner after its waterlily supported an astonishing 285.7 pounds. Although Phipps did not take the top prize this year, our horticulture team is proud of this impressive accomplishment and already looking forward to refining its strategy for next year!
Waterlilies have been a staple at Phipps since its inception. In 1895, the Conservatory hosted the Triennial Conclave of the Knights Templar, during which this iconic image was captured. In the photo, a woman, Angie Means, stands on a giant Amazonian water lily pad, Victoria regia, in our Victoria Room.
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Realizing that our waterlilies could actually hold the weight of a person, we recreated the historic shot in 2026, a full 131 years later:
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