Nymphaea rubra is a species of waterlily native to the region spanning from Sri Lanka and northeastern India to western and central Malesia.

Additionally, it has been introduced to regions such as Southeast China, Cuba, Guyana, Hungary, and Suriname.

The adaxial leaf surface is bronzy red to dark green, and the abaxial leaf surface is dark purple.

[3] One case of the development of a proliferating pseudanthia has been reported for a Nymphaea rubra specimen cultivated in the Botanical Garden of the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1886.

[9] It was first named by William Roxburgh, but only later validly published by Henry Cranke Andrews in 1808.