Nymphaea violacea is found in Australia, particularly in the Western Australian Kimberley region and in northern parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

[5] The specific epithet violacea is derived from the Latin violace, meaning violet coloured.

[6] The waterlily is a bush tucker of the Aboriginal people in northern Australia.

The tuber, stem, flowers and seeds are all edible.

Like other species in the genus, the plant contains the psychoactive alkaloid aporphine, which provide sedative effects when ingested.