A common water plant in the north-eastern part of Pennsylvania, yellow pondlily is usually found in waters up to 2m deep in eutrophic lakes with soft bottom sediments.  The leaves usually float on surface of the water but may occasionally be elevated above the surface.  Petioles are flattened on the upper side unlike the petioles of N. advena that are round or oval in cross-section.  The flowers are 2-4 cm in diameter, with 6 yellow sepals and a yellow/greenish stigmatic disk.