Nelumbo Elite Red - Dwarf lotus

Nelumbo 'Elite Red' is a dwarf lotus distinguished by its double reddish-pink flowering and its delicately spicy fragrance. Well-suited to small ponds and aquatic containers, it possesses all the qualities of the sacred lotus without its exuberant character. It is a delightful variety for adorning a sunny terrace or a modest-sized water feature.

Related to the sacred lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, this cultivar belongs to the Nelumbonaceae family. The species is commonly called the sacred lotus, Oriental lotus, and Indian lotus. Its main botanical synonyms are Nelumbium speciosum, Nelumbo speciosa, Nelumbo indica, and Nymphaea nelumbo. In the wild, the sacred lotus grows in calm or very slow-moving, muddy, and warm waters, from temperate and tropical Asia to northern Australia. It is found notably in China, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and even in northern Australia. It is a deciduous, rhizomatous aquatic perennial: all aerial vegetation disappears with the first cold spells.

'Elite Red' is distinguished by its modest growth: the plant forms an emergent clump 60 cm tall, with flowers that can reach 80 cm. Its growth is rapid once the water warms up. The round, peltate leaves, meaning attached at their centre, are a bright, slightly satiny green and measure 25 to 30 cm in diameter. They float at first and then rise above the water. The flowers, also erect, are double, 8 to 12 cm wide, a deep pink when opening, slightly streaked with white, then lighter as they bloom. The numerous petals, arranged in several rows, give the corolla a very full, beautiful profile. The centre shows a yellow-green receptacle surrounded by golden stamens. Flowering runs from July to September, being more generous in late summer. Each flower lives for 3 or 4 days, opening each morning. The watering-can-shaped fruiting heads become decorative when dried.

Install Nelumbo 'Elite Red' in a wide bowl, a half-barrel, or a small, very sunny pond, with heavy, rich soil covered by 10 to 20 cm of water. Give it space: its flowers look best emerging alone above a calm water mirror.

Lotus and water lilies are among the most beautiful pond plants. Most flower from spring until early autumn. The lotus is also very useful for the good balance of a garden pond, as it contributes to water oxygenation. Its leaves will provide shade and shelter for your fish, which, in return, will protect them from predatory insects like aphids.

The entire plant is edible. The seeds can be eaten candied, and the rhizome is a nourishing starch. The yellow stamens are used to flavour tea in Vietnam. The rhizome and seeds are also used in Chinese cosmetics to combat ageing, as well as in medicine and perfumery.

The perfection of the flower and fruit of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) makes this aquatic plant a symbol of purity in several religions. In Buddhism, it derives its sacred character from the belief that Buddha appeared floating on its leaf. In Hinduism, it is perceived as the cradle of the universe.