Kew Gardens water lily supports 102 kilograms in annual weigh-off
A water lily leaf at Kew Gardens has held 102 kilograms in the annual weigh-off, setting a new record for the event.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A giant water lily at London's Kew Gardens has supported a weight of 102 kilograms, setting a new record in the annual weigh-off competition between botanical gardens and zoos around the world.
The tournament, now in its fourth year, is described as playful rather than scientific. In previous years, no competitor had managed to support more than 100 kilograms. This year, Kew Gardens' entry was loaded first with tins of baked beans, described as "Britain's finest", and then with a member of the horticulture team. The total weight reached 102 kilograms and the leaf remained stable.
A botanist who stood on the leaf called it "a dream come true", adding that it was an aspiration for anyone working with aquatic plants.
The team behind the entry say the secret to a strong leaf lies in the conditions. Keeping the water at about 25 degrees Celsius helps the plants grow large, and recent heatwaves have taken the strain off their water heater. Fish waste in the pond also acts as a natural fertiliser.
The giant water lily evolved in the Amazon, where it developed the strength to stay afloat during heavy tropical rainstorms, allowing it to continue reaching sunlight.
While the weigh-off is lighthearted, the underlying aim is to breed hardy water lilies. The team is collecting pollen from this year's flower to grow next year's candidate. The official winner, and the identity of the world's strongest lily pad, will be announced next week.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITI1 | ITV |
|---|---|---|
| A Kew water lily supported 102 kilograms, exceeding the previous 100-kilogram barrier. | ||
| Keeping water at around 25 degrees Celsius helps water lilies grow large. | · | |
| The water lily weigh-off has been held for the last four years. | · | |
| The weight-off is not peer-reviewed and is not scientifically accurate. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report frames the water lily weigh-off as another quirky strength contest, alongside events like the World's Strongest Man. It emphasises the sport's growing "fierce competition" and the scientific comedy of the event, highlighting practical details such as water temperature and fish poo as fertiliser. The tone is curious and lighthearted, with a strong sense of discovery.
- “It's arguably the fiercest competition in all of global aquatic horticulture”
- “Fish poo is a known fertiliser”
- “You're not just a lily, you are THE water lily”
The report uses a fairy tale hook, comparing the lily pad to a frog's perch, and plays up the absurdity of a burly botanist standing on a leaf. It takes a slightly more tongue-in-cheek view of the competition but still delivers the same core facts and quotes. The tone is more wry, with the story framed as a test of weight vs. a "big bloke."
- “In fairy tales, it is frogs that sit on lily pads, not 16 stone burly botanists”
- “Time for the water lily weigh-off”
- “The winner will be announced next week”
Broadcast Timeline
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