Three years ago, the Denver Botanic Gardens staff were curious about how much weight a lily pad could hold. They tested it out, the video went viral and now they are hosting the first official ...

That's the question Botanic Gardens across the world are answering in a viral social media challenge issued by the Denver Botanic Gardens this year. They're not your typical pond lily pads, either.

That's the question Botanic Gardens across the world are answering in a viral social media challenge issued by the Denver Botanic Gardens this year. They're not your typical pond lily pads, either ...

Missouri water lily holds 142 pounds of sandbags, wins worldwide contest “They really look like they’re from an alien planet,” said Greta Berg, a horticulturist at the Missouri Botanical ...

The international "water lily weigh-off" found the Missouri Botanical Garden's (MoBOT) water lily pads held the most weight of any lily pads in the world.

The Missouri Botanical Garden won first place by piling 142 pounds on a Victoria water lily pad floating in the pond across from the Climatron. At 5 feet across, it was the largest pad in the pool.

The Denver Botanical Garden started the “Water Lily Weigh-Off” three years ago, and it quickly spread throughout the country over the next two years.

The results of the international "water lily weigh-off" found the Missouri Botanical Garden's lily pads held the most weight of any lily pads in the world.

When to visit Denver Botanic Gardens to see every flower in bloom, from tulips to roses to the columbine flower and more.

But how much can these thin leaves hold? Denver Botanic Gardens asked that with its water lily weigh-off, challenging gardens around the globe to find the strongest lily pad.

Of the 100-plus varieties grown at McKee, 48 received the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society Certified Collection of Excellence.