What Is the Lotus Plant?

A symbol in many cultures for creation and rebirth, the lotus is an aquatic perennial pond plant popular in water gardens.

It is not a water lily, as some people think, but one of its common names is Chinese waterlily, and it does share some characteristics with the water lily. Other common names are sacred lotus, Chinese arrowroot, pink lotus, eastern lotus, Indian lotus, padma and water bean.

The lotus (‌Nelumbo nucifera‌, USDA hardiness zones 4 to 10) is native to Asia and northern Australia. In Buddhism, the lotus is widely used to represent the cycle of life from birth to death to rebirth.

Water Lily and Lotus Differences

The water lily (‌‌Nymphaea‌ spp.), sometimes called the Egyptian lotus to cause even more confusion, has many similarities with the lotus plant, but they are distinct aquatic plants from different genuses.

Leaves

That thin, almost papery round leaf floating calmly on the water is almost certainly a lotus because the water lily’s leaves are thicker, waxy and have a characteristic notch. The lotus leaf can grow as large as 2 to 3 feet in diameter, or it can grow on top of tall stalks, sometimes 5 feet above the water.

Lotus Seeds

The lotus plant has a seed pod that remains visible on the surface of the water after the lotus flower has faded, while the water lily wilts and disintegrates into the water.

The lotus seeds can last for years, even centuries.

Water Depth

The lotus is found only in shallow water, about 12 inches or so, while the water lily can grow in water up to 5 feet deep.

Dr. Thomas G. Barnes, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Types of Lotuses

There are two primary varieties of lotus plants. In addition to the sacred lotus, there is the American lotus (‌Nelumbo lutea‌), native to North America, specifically Florida. This species is capable of growing at a deeper water level than the sacred lotus, sometimes even 6 feet deep.

The non-native variety—the sacred lotus—is considered invasive in some areas of the U.S., although the American lotus is also a vigorous grower.

How to Grow Lotus

Lotus plants require full sun and a lot of space. As a pond plant, it requires complete submersion below the water surface to grow. While it prefers freshwater, it can handle brackish water as well.

The lotus can be an aggressive grower, however, and in some areas, it is considered invasive. For this reason, the University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends growing it in a container, ideally shallow or wide rather than tall and narrow:

• Fill it with potting mix or garden soil.
• Plant the lotus rhizome a couple of inches deep at the edge of the container so that it can grow horizontally.
• Add 1 or 2 inches of sand or gravel over the soil to help retain the soil in the container.
• Submerge the entire container under 6 inches of water.

After you see sprouts, you can move the container into a deeper area of the pond, up to 18 inches at most. Use rocks or bricks to elevate the container if your pond is deeper than that.