Photographed in Kew’s Waterlily House, the ‘new to science’ species of giant waterlily – Victoria boliviana – was unveiled to the public in early July of 2022, after being grown by seed. The giant waterlily flower is white in colour on the first day and pink on the second, and only blooms at night; the flowers emerge at dusk and close by noon.

This newly identified species is now officially the largest known species of waterlily in the world, with the record leaf size of 3.2 metres recorded in La Rinconada Gardens in Bolivia.

2nd place - Captured at Kew