Also known as Blue water lily, Blue lotus, Cape water lily, Frog's pulpit, Blue lotus of the Nile etc. The egyptian lotus (Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea) is an aquatic plant native to Africa. Showy blue flowers bloom in summer amid wide, floating leaves. The roots anchor into the mud of the pond floor below. They can also be planted in backyard ponds or wide pots. Many species of fish appreciate the shade these floating plants provide.