Nymphaea elegans, also known as the tropical royalblue waterlily,[2][3] is a species of aquatic plants in the family Nymphaeaceae.

It is native to the United States (Louisiana, Florida and Texas), Mexico, and the Bahamas.

[6] The type specimen was collected from a pond near the head of Leona River in 1849 by Charles Wright in Texas, USA.

[6][7] The specific epithet elegans means fine, elegant, or handsome.

[citation needed] Nymphaea elegans has been reported to be an important food plant of sandhill cranes in Texas, USA.