Huge interest in 'crispy white' giant water lily flower at the Hortus

Hundreds of visitors gathered at the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam yesterday evening to witness the rare blooming of a South American giant water lily. The botanical garden extended its opening hours for the occasion, allowing guests to observe the Victoria Longwood Hybrid flower open in the darkness. The event drew massive crowds, with visitors lining up across the nearby bridge to see the white flower, which is known for emitting a pineapple-like scent to attract beetles in its native Amazon habitat. Barbara van Amelsfort of the Hortus noted that the plant, a hybrid of the Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana, is a late bloomer this year, likely due to the exceptionally warm summer. Because the specific beetles required for pollination are absent in Amsterdam, the garden's staff performs the task manually using small brushes. The flower will turn pink today and close during the day before potentially blooming again. The display is expected to continue until mid-October before the season ends.