Sacred Lotus
Nelumbo nucifera
Also listed as Nelumbium nelumbo, Nelumbium speciosum
Also known as Lotus, Indian Lotus, East Indian Lotus
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sacred Lotus grows in your area.
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A aquatic perennial with large, round leaves and stunning fragrant flowers that rise above the water surface. Sacred Lotus is prized in permaculture for its edible rhizomes, seeds, and ornamental beauty in water gardens and ponds.
Why grow it
Sacred Lotus offers multiple edible components (rhizomes, seeds, and tubers) that distinguish it from purely ornamental water plants, making it suitable for food-producing water gardens in temperate and warm climates. The flowers and foliage provide landscape interest while the plant's cultural significance has made it a standard choice in ornamental pond design. Compared to native aquatic perennials in most regions, it requires warmer growing conditions and deeper water, limiting its range but offering distinct culinary value where climate permits.
Watch out for
This plant requires warm water and a long growing season; in cooler regions, it may fail to flower or produce viable seeds. Container cultivation in artificial ponds requires careful attention to water depth, temperature stability, and nutrient levels, as shallow or cool water frequently results in poor performance. Rhizomes are fragile and easily damaged during harvest or transplanting, so handling should be deliberate.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Nelumbonaceae
Native Range
Asia (India, East Asia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Pink and white cultivars are most common; 'Magenta Beauty' and 'Pekinensis Rubra' are prized for deep red flowers, while 'Alba Grandiflora' produces large white blooms.
Root layer
Root crops and the underground layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A aquatic perennial with large, round leaves and stunning fragrant flowers that rise above the water surface. Sacred Lotus is prized in permaculture for its edible rhizomes, seeds, and ornamental beauty in water gardens and ponds.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sacred Lotus grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sacred Lotus offers multiple edible components (rhizomes, seeds, and tubers) that distinguish it from purely ornamental water plants, making it suitable for food-producing water gardens in temperate and warm climates. The flowers and foliage provide landscape interest while the plant's cultural significance has made it a standard choice in ornamental pond design. Compared to native aquatic perennials in most regions, it requires warmer growing conditions and deeper water, limiting its range but offering distinct culinary value where climate permits.
Watch out for
This plant requires warm water and a long growing season; in cooler regions, it may fail to flower or produce viable seeds. Container cultivation in artificial ponds requires careful attention to water depth, temperature stability, and nutrient levels, as shallow or cool water frequently results in poor performance. Rhizomes are fragile and easily damaged during harvest or transplanting, so handling should be deliberate.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Nelumbonaceae
Native Range
Asia (India, East Asia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Root layer
Root crops and the underground layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar root crops you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Pink and white cultivars are most common; 'Magenta Beauty' and 'Pekinensis Rubra' are prized for deep red flowers, while 'Alba Grandiflora' produces large white blooms.