Sacred Lotus is a marginal aquatic (rhizomatous hydrogeophyte), herbaceous perennial, a native of Asia in the lotus-lily family, with large, fragrant pink flowers. It typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall in shallow water and spreads by thickened rhizomes rooted in the mud. The leaf blades either float on the surface of the water, or are held up to 5 feet above the water surface by their petiole that is joined to a depression in the middle of the leaf blade. Each flower is held above the water surface on 6 foot stalks and blooms for about three days, opening in the morning and closing at night. The plant's common name, Sacred Lotus, refers to the sacred and symbolic status the flower holds in Buddhism and Hinduism. The genus name comes from the Sinhalese name. The species name means bearing nuts. Sacred Lotus grows best in organically rich loam, in calm water up to 6 feet deep, with mucky, submerged soil, in full sun. Each individual leaf and flower comes directly from the root system. The plant prefers a sheltered location with little exposure to wind and waves. This plant can spread aggressively and completely take over a shallow pond. When planted in water, make sure that the water does not freeze down to the roots. If the plants need to be moved during winter, you can plant the roots in large containers or planting baskets with up to 24 inches of water covering the crowns and move to other locations if needed. In fall, containers submerged in less than 6 inches of water should be moved into deeper water or brought indoors for overwintering. Once established, roots anchored directly in the muddy bottom near the water margin will spread and colonize. The fruit resemble the shape of a watering can rose that acquire a woody texture when dried and are highly prized for dried flower arrangements. Some Midwestern states have labeled this plant a noxious weed and you should use caution if adding it to your landscape. Its planting in Wisconsin is prohibited. The Clemson Home and Garden Information Center has a page on aquatic plants, including Nelumbo nucifera . Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known insect or disease problems. Aphids and red spider mites are an problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf shape
Orbicular
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Waxy
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Rounded, parasol-like, upward-cupped, waxy green leaves appear above the water on long petioles which attach at the middle of the leaf underside (peltate). These circular leaf blades are 1½ to 3 feet across. The margins often undulate up and down.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Flowers bloom in the summer (around June and July) and can be as large as 1 foot across. The cupped, fragrant, pink or white flowers (8 to 12 inches in diameter) appear on stiff stems above the foliage. Each blossom lasts for three days.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit value
Edible; Good Dried
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Nut-like fruits that are imbedded in the flat surface of a turbinate (inversely conical) receptacle (2 to 3 inches in diameter). Dried flower arrangements sometimes use the dried seed heads.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Asia (Iran to China, Japan, New Guinea) and Australia
Distribution
Introduced to the southeastern United States, Italy, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Leeward and Windward Islands.
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves; Seeds
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Edibility
Asian cooking, as well as other cooking, may use the edible leaves, seeds, or even the rhizomes in foods.