Nelumbo nucifera Red and White - Pale Pink and White

The Nelumbo nucifera, better known as the Oriental Lotus or Sacred Lotus, is a large and beautiful aquatic plant from Asia famous for its broad peltate leaves that rise above the water's surface and its large, delicately scented, pastel pink flowers. This lotus blooms for many weeks in the summer. It thrives best in a large pond, although it can be kept in a large container for a few years. Contrary to popular belief, it can withstand our winters if its rhizome is not exposed to temperatures below 5°C.

Nelumbo nucifera is a perennial plant from the Nelumbonaceae family. Unlike water lilies, it is an aquatic plant with foliage and flowers that rise above the water. Its native range includes Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. In these regions, the sacred lotus populates large, calm ponds and canals filled with muddy water, standing out with its majestic presence.

The Nelumbo nucifera develops green-blue leaves from spring onwards, which can be more or less upright, with a flat or concave surface and slightly undulated edges. Water droplets on their surface bead up instead of spreading out due to the hydrophobic quality of the epidermis. The entire and peltate lamina, measuring between 40 and 60 cm in diameter, attaches to the very brittle rhizome with a thin, spiny petiole fixed beneath the centre of the leaf. The plant can rise 1.50 m above the water's surface or even 2 m under optimal growing conditions. Flowering begins in June-July and continues until autumn. The flowers, with 20 petals, measure 15 to 20 cm in diameter (or even 25 cm) and are solitary. They last three to four days before wilting and are replaced by new flower buds. This flowering is followed by the formation of highly decorative fruits shaped like a watering can with small holes that release the mature seeds. It is often used in dried flower arrangements and contains numerous seeds that eventually sink and germinate in the mud.

The Sacred Lotus is ideal for large water gardens, but it can also adapt to being grown in a large watertight container, which can decorate a terrace or balcony. In this case, dividing it every three or four years will be necessary, as it has vigorous growth. Its rhizome should be planted 50 cm and 1 m below the water's surface. The rhizome can also be taken out of the water in autumn and stored in damp mud, protected from frost.

Nelumbos and water lilies will be the main attractions in your pond plantings. Most of them bloom from spring until early autumn. The lotus is essential for maintaining a balanced garden pond, as it contributes to water oxygenation. Its leaves provide shade and shelter for your fish, which, in return, protect them from predatory insects such as 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 flower and fruit of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) makes this aquatic plant a symbol of purity in several religions. In Buddhism, it is considered sacred because it is believed that Buddha appeared floating on its leaf. In Hinduism, it is seen as the cradle of the universe.