Nelumbo Moling Qiuse

The Nelumbo 'Moling Qiuse', considered one of the most beautiful yellow lotus flowers, is a Chinese cultivar of modest size, rare in cultivation and highly sought after for its magnificent double, ruffled, gradient yellow flowers, pleasantly fragrant. The plant has round, decorative leaves and blooms for long weeks in summer. Its growth is suitable for small and medium-sized ponds and container gardening. All the exotic charm of the sacred lotus of India!

The Nelumbo 'Moling Qiuse' is a Chinese horticultural creation, sometimes marketed under the name 'Autumn in Moling'. This cultivar was introduced in 2016 in France at the Latour-Marliac establishments. Like all lotus flowers, it belongs to the Nelumbonaceae family. It is an aquatic perennial with foliage and flowers that rise above the water, unlike in water lilies. The species' original range, Nelumbo nucifera, includes Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. It inhabits large ponds and canals filled with muddy water in these regions, standing out majestically.

The Nelumbo 'Moling Qiuse' develops dark green leaves from spring, more or less upright, with a flat or concave surface, undulating at the edges. Water droplets on their surface bead up instead of spreading out due to the water-repellent quality of the epidermis. The entire and peltate lamina, measuring between 15 and 20 cm in diameter, attaches to the very brittle rhizome with a thin, spiny petiole fixed under the centre of the leaf. The plant will rise about 55 cm above the water surface. Flowering begins in June-July and extends until late summer, depending on the climate. The double flowers are solitary, measuring 10 to 15 cm in diameter. They last three days before wilting and are replaced by new flower buds. This flowering is followed by the formation of highly decorative yellow fruits shaped like a watering can with small holes through which the seeds escape when ripe. It is often used to make dried bouquets and contains numerous seeds that will eventually sink and germinate in the mud.

This 'Moling Qiuse' lotus is hardy if its rhizome does not freeze. It can also be taken out of the water in autumn and stored in frost-free conditions, in slightly damp mud. It is ideal for small water plants and adapts to cultivation in various watertight containers that decorate the terrace or balcony. The number of flowers produced depends on the size of the growing container. In a 30 cm diameter container, the plant will grow between 3 and 8 flowers, 8 to 15 flowers in a 50 cm container, and up to 25 in a basin or barrel with an 80 cm diameter.

Nelumbos and water lilies will be the main attraction of your pond plantings. Most of them bloom from spring until early autumn. The lotus is also an essential plant for maintaining the balance of a garden pond as it contributes to water oxygenation. Its leaves provide shade and shelter for your fish, protecting them from predatory insects like aphids.

The entire plant is edible. The seeds are consumed 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 sacred lotus flower and fruit (Nelumbo nucifera) makes this aquatic plant a symbol of purity in several religions. Buddhism 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.