Nelumbo spp.

lotus

Nelumbonaceae

Asia, northern Australia, and the Americas

Attracts Pollinators Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 4–11

Overview

Nelumbo spp. is a genus of two aquatic perennials in the family Nelumbonaceae, the lotuses, grown in still and slow-moving fresh water across warm-temperate and tropical regions. Plants grow from thick, branching rhizomes rooted in mud, sending up round, peltate leaves that stand on stiff stalks 0.3-1.5 m (1-5 ft) above the water and span 30-60 cm (12-24 in) across, their waxy surface shedding water in beads. Solitary cupped flowers 15-25 cm (6-10 in) wide open on tall stalks in summer, with many petals and a flat-topped central receptacle that enlarges into a woody, perforated seed head holding hard, nut-like seeds. N. nucifera, the sacred lotus, ranges through Asia to northern Australia in pink to white forms, while N. lutea, the American lotus, bears pale-yellow flowers across eastern North America. Flowers hold heat internally and last two to three days, opening and closing each morning. Rhizomes and seeds are eaten in many cuisines. In open water the rhizomes spread strongly and can fill a pond, so plants are often grown in submerged containers to limit them.

Native Range

The two species of Nelumbo spp. hold separate ranges. N. nucifera is native across warm parts of Asia, from Iran and India through China and Southeast Asia to northern Australia, while N. lutea is native to eastern and central North America, the Caribbean, and Central America. Both grow in ponds, lakes, slow rivers, and floodplain wetlands.

Suggested Uses

Grown in ponds, large water bowls, and submerged containers in full sun, set one rhizome per container of 30-45 cm (12-18 in) width. The flowers, foliage, and dried seed heads are used ornamentally and in cut arrangements, and the rhizomes and seeds are harvested as food.

How to Identify

Look for large, round, peltate leaves held well above the water on central stalks, their blue-green surface beading water. The cupped many-petalled flowers and, above all, the flat-topped woody seed receptacle dotted with embedded nut-like seeds identify Nelumbo spp. at once. The receptacle sets lotuses apart from water lilies, whose flowers and floating leaves sit at the water surface.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 5'

Width/Spread3' - 5'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer

Flowering runs through summer, mainly June to August in warm conditions. Each bloom opens over two to three mornings before the petals fall to reveal the developing seed head. A succession of flowers carries the display across several weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pink, white, or yellow

Foliage Description

Blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagewet

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Nelumbo spp. grows in full sun in still or slow fresh water 15-90 cm (6-36 in) deep over a rich, loamy mud, with warm summers needed to flower well. The rhizomes are hardy where the root zone stays unfrozen, roughly USDA zones 4 to 11 depending on species and water depth, though the plants demand summer heat to perform. Growth begins only once water warms in late spring. Container culture in submerged pots of heavy loam keeps the spreading rhizomes in check. Still water and full light favour heavy flowering, while shade and moving water suppress it.

Pruning

Yellowing leaves and spent flower stems are removed through the season to keep the water clear. All top growth is cut back in autumn as it dies down, leaving the rhizome dormant in the mud or container. Crowded rhizomes are divided in spring as growth restarts.