Nymphaea is an important aquatic ornamental plant that plays an important role in aquatic ecological restoration， landscaping， horticultural health and other areas. The research progress on the classification and characteristics of Nymphaea by morphology， cytology， palynology and molecular markers was reviewed， and the phylogeny and phylogenetic relationships of Nymphaea were analyzed from different perspectives. The current situation of genomics and gene family function analysis and identification of Nymphaea， as well as the research progress of physiology， biochemistry and resistance of Nymphaea were reviewed， which provided the basis for the systematic study of reproductive growth and stress response mechanism of Nymphaea. At the same time， the research contents of embryonic development， reproductive process and breeding of Nymphaea were reviewed. And in the future， the research of Nympheae should continue to deepen， the genetic transformation system should be established， and the breeding， whole genome sequencing of Nympheae should be strengthened， in order to provide important theoretical basis for the breeding and propagation of new varieties of Nymphaea and the preservation and utilization of germplasm resources of Nymphaea by using molecular biology technology.