Eastern Lotus Nelumbo nucifera
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- nee-LUM-bo noo-SIFF-er-uh
- Description
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This plant is an aquatic perennial with large pink flowers.
Some Midwestern states have labeled noxious weed to this plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Pond and Stream
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nelumbo
- Species:
- nucifera
- Family:
- Nelumbonacea
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia (Iran to China, Japan and New Guinea) and NE Australia
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- insect pests, diseases
- Edibility:
- Asian cooking, as well as other cooking, may use the edible leaves, seeds, or even the rhizomes in foods.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Water Plant
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Dried
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Seedhead has holes where seeds are inside. Asian cooking, as well as other cooking, may use the edible leaves, seeds, or even the rhizomes in foods. Dried flower arrangments sometimes use the dried seedheads.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom in the summer (around June and July) and can be as large as 1 foot across!
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large leaves are about 2 inches in diameter. Asian cooking, as well as other cooking, may use the edible leaves, seeds, or even the rhizomes in foods.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Insect Pests
