Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

In the United States, Sacred Lotus is an Asian water-garden plant that has escaped into the wild in parts of the East. Its pink or white flowers and unbroken, round leaves rise above the water, while the native American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) usually has pale yellow flowers.

Appearance

Growth form: Sacred Lotus is an that spreads from thick rooted in mud. Leaves and flowers rise on separate stalks directly from the underground system.
Leaves: The green leaves can reach 2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m) across. Many stand as high as 5 ft (1.5 m) above the water, with the stalk attached near the center of the unnotched blade.
Flowers: Fragrant pink or white flowers can open to about 12 in (30 cm) across. Each flower opens in the morning and closes later in the day for several days.
Fruit: After the petals fall, the center enlarges into a flat-topped pod with one hard seed in each hole.

Look-alikes

American lotusNelumbo lutea

American lotus has pale yellow to cream flowers. Sacred Lotus usually has pink, red, or white flowers; leaves and seed pods alone can be very difficult to separate.

Why they get mixed upBoth have large, unnotched round leaves and showerhead-shaped seed pods.

Fragrant water-lilyNymphaea odorata

Fragrant water-lily (Nymphaea odorata) has a distinct slit in each leaf, and its leaves and flowers usually rest on the water. Sacred Lotus has unbroken round leaves and flowers held high on stiff stalks.

Why they get mixed upBoth are showy pond plants with round leaves and pale flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: shallow ponds
quiet lake edges
water gardens
Range: It is native across parts of Eurasia, tropical Asia, and northern Australia. In the United States it is introduced, with wild records mostly in eastern and southern states and scattered records elsewhere.
Preferred conditions: It grows best in full sun, rich muddy soil, and calm water. A sheltered site protects the tall leaves and flowers from strong wind and waves.
Flowering: Flowers Jul–Sep
Flowers Jul–Sep

Growing it

Care: Grow it in a large container or contained pond in full sun. Keep the rhizomes below water that will not freeze solid, and do not release plants, seeds, or rhizome pieces into natural waterways.
Propagation: It spreads by seed and by branching rhizomes. Rhizome pieces can start new growth, so established colonies may expand quickly.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: Garden selections include pink, red, and white flowers; single and ; and compact container forms.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Threats: Outside cultivation, dense colonies can cover shallow water and shade other aquatic plants.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The name Sacred Lotus reflects the flower's long-standing importance in Buddhism and Hinduism.
Its edible rhizomes and seeds have also made it an important crop across much of Asia.

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