Nelumbo nucifera White - Sacred Lotus

The Nelumbo nucifera 'White', or White Sacred Lotus, is a large and beautiful aquatic perennial, adorned with its nearly round leaves held well above the water surface and its long white, double summer flowering. This lotus should be planted at a minimum depth of 1m to protect it from harsh winters. Alternatively, the rhizome can be lifted from the water in autumn and stored in frost-free conditions, in slightly damp mud.

The 'White' Lotus is a perennial plant belonging to the Nelumbonaceae family. It is an aquatic plant with foliage and flowers that rise above the water, unlike water lilies. The native range of the species, Nelumbo nucifera, includes Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. In these regions, it thrives in large ponds and muddy canals, standing out with majestic beauty.

The 'White' variety produces blue-green leaves that emerge in spring, more or less upright, with a flat or concave surface and slightly undulate edges. Water droplets on their surface bead up instead of spreading, due to the hydrophobic nature of the epidermis. The entire and peltate lamina, measuring between 40 and 60 cm in diameter, attaches to the very brittle rhizome via a slender spiny petiole, fixed below the centre of the leaf. The plant will rise 1 to 2m above the water surface. The flowering period starts in June-July and continues until autumn. The flowers, with crumpled texture, measuring 13-15 cm in diameter, are solitary. They last for several 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 through which the mature seeds escape. It is often used in dried flower arrangements and contains numerous seeds that will eventually sink and germinate in the mud.

The Lotus is ideal for large water plantings, but it can also be grown in a large watertight container to adorn the terrace or balcony.

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

The entire plant is edible. The seeds are consumed candied, and the rhizome is a nutritious 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) has made 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 a lotus leaf. In Hinduism, it is seen as the cradle of the universe.