Nelumbo Guifei Zuijiu - Dwarf lotus

Nelumbo 'Guifei Zuijiu' is a miniature variety of lotus or "Bowl lotus" of Chinese origin, prized for its unusual, small, graceful flowers with fine, sparse petals. Particularly refined and flowering all summer, this plant works wonders in patio ponds and small aquatic spaces. Plant its rhizome in the mud, under 10 to 20 cm of water.

Lotus 'Guifei Zuijiu' was selected in the city of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China. It is a perennial aquatic plant belonging to the Nelumbonaceae family. The native range of the wild Nelumbo nucifera includes Southeast Asia (India, Nepal...) and northern Australia. In nature, the Sacred Lotus carries its majestic silhouette above large ponds and canals filled with muddy water. The aerial vegetation of Lotus 'Guifei Zuijiu' is deciduous: its foliage emerges in spring and disappears before winter. Its slightly glaucous green, rounded leaves have a flat or concave surface, slightly wavy at the edges. Water droplets bead on their surface, due to the hydrophobic character of their epidermis. The leaf measures between 10 and 15 cm in diameter, attached to the rhizome by a slender petiole, fixed under the centre of the leaf. The plant will stand 30-40 cm above the water's surface. The flowering period spreads from June to August-September. The flowers measure 5-10 cm in diameter, and they are creamy white, edged with pale pink. They last several days before fading and will be replaced by new flower buds. The lotus fruits are very decorative. Their shape resembles a watering can rose filled with small holes. It is often used in dried flower arrangements and contains numerous seeds that will eventually sink and germinate in the mud.

Nelumbo 'Guifei Zuijiu' can be placed in a watertight container on the terrace, balcony, or patio, for example. It should be planted in a sunny spot, under 10 to 20 cm of water, in a mini pond, half-barrel, or decorative 20-litre pot, with clay soil and a nitrogen-rich fertiliser. After 2 or 3 years, the rhizomes will need dividing and replanting. The number of flowers produced depends on the size of the growing container. In a 30 cm diameter container, the plant will produce between 3 and 8 flowers, 8 to 15 flowers in a 50 cm container, and up to 25 in an 80 cm diameter bowl or barrel. Pair it with oxygenating aquatic plants, such as bladderwort or Hottonia palustris.

Lotus and dwarf water lilies have few equals for beautifying small ponds. Most flower for over 3 months without requiring maintenance. The lotus is also an essential plant for the balance of a water feature, as it helps oxygenate the water.
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 seen as the cradle of the universe.