Nelumbo nucifera Ford's Raptor Red - Sacred lotus

Nelumbo nucifera ‘Ford’s Raptor Red’ is a large Sacred Lotus, sought after to adorn large ponds with its rich summer flowering and its opulent foliage. This variety produces large single flowers, of a deep crimson red, held well above the water by sturdy peduncles. This lotus will withstand our winters if its rhizome is planted deep enough under the water, protected from frost.

The Sacred Lotus belongs to the Nelumbonaceae family. The species Nelumbo nucifera is native to Asia and has been cultivated for centuries for its ornamental, culinary, and symbolic value. It is a rhizomatous aquatic perennial, rooted in a heavy substrate, whose vegetation restarts in spring when the water warms up. It is easily distinguished from water lilies: in the lotus, leaves and flowers rise distinctly above the surface, whereas water lilies most often develop floating foliage. The floral receptacle shaped like a watering can rose, is also characteristic.

'Ford’s Raptor Red’, sometimes sold under the similar name ‘Ford’s Red Raptor’, is a horticultural selection from Ten Mile Creek Nursery (Alabama, USA), named for Ford Bancroft. It belongs to the group of large lotuses. The plant develops powerful vegetation, which stands 1.20 m to 1.50 m above the water, depending on the heat, the richness of the substrate, and the volume available for the rhizome. Its foliage is composed of large peltate leaves, almost circular, borne on long, rigid petioles. Mature leaves reach 50 to 60 cm in diameter. Their slightly waxy surface repels water, which beads up without spreading, a typical trait of the Nelumbo genus. The flowering period spans from June to August. The single, well-opened flowers measure about 20 cm in diameter, sometimes more under good conditions. Their crimson red to carmine red colouring stands out strongly against the foliage. They are held high, which enhances the plant's visibility in large ponds. As with other lotuses, each flower is short-lived, but the plant produces several during the summer. After flowering, the fruit-bearing receptacle becomes decorative in turn. In autumn, the foliage yellows and then disappears, while the rhizome enters winter dormancy.

Due to its vigour, this cultivar is better suited to large ponds than to small water features. It is suitable for large water bodies and landscaped ponds. Plant in heavy garden soil, clayey or silty. A very sunny exposure is essential to obtain dense vegetation and regular flowering. It should be planted under 30 to 40 cm of water.

In the water garden, this lotus makes a remarkable focal point. It can be accompanied by marginal plants or other less vigorous aquatic plants to accentuate its height without competing with it. Like other lotuses, it contributes to the pond's balance by providing shade and shelter for small aquatic wildlife. In winter, the main thing is to protect the rhizome from ice: in a sufficiently deep pond, it can remain in place; in a shallow container, it is preferable to keep it frost-free.
Heir to a long horticultural and cultural tradition in Asia, the lotus retains a unique presence in today's gardens, at once majestic, calm, and luminous.