Lotus Plants for Ponds and Container Water Gardens
Lotus (Nelumbo) are among the most striking plants you can grow in water. Their round, parasol-like leaves rise on long stems above the surface, and in summer, large, cupped, often fragrant flowers open above them, some as wide as 12 inches across. Each bloom lasts about three days, opening in the morning and closing at night, then leaves behind the seed pod lotus are known for. We carry lotus from pure white and soft cream to vibrant pink, deep rose, red and yellow, in sizes from bowl lotus for a patio container to full-size varieties that can fill a large water garden. Sacred lotus is native to Asia and Australia and holds a sacred place in Buddhism and Hinduism, and once established it comes back every summer.
Lotus grow from tubers planted horizontally in wide, shallow containers sized to the plant: under 15 inches across for bowl lotus, 16 to 30 inches for medium and 24 to 48 inches for large. Use heavy clay or aquatic soil, never potting mix with perlite or peat, which floats. Settle the tuber into the soil but leave the growing tip exposed. It is brittle, so handle it gently and do not bury it.
Depth is measured as water above the soil surface inside the container. That is worth stating, because lotus depth gets published four different ways (over the soil, over the pot rim, over the pot's base and total pond depth), which is why the same plant is described in one place as wanting three inches and in another as wanting three feet. Start a new lotus at 2 to 4 inches over the soil and raise the level as it pushes aerial leaves. Once established, bowl and dwarf cultivars want 2 to 12 inches over the crown, medium cultivars 6 to 18 inches and large cultivars 12 to 24 inches. Full depths for every plant type are in our pond plant buyer's guide.
Full sun is essential: lotus need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day and do best with 8 or more. They also need 3 to 4 weeks of temperatures above 80°F before they start to bloom, and a new tuber may not bloom until its second summer. Feed heavily with aquatic fertilizer tablets once the plant has several floating leaves or is putting up aerial leaves; our lotus feeding notes explain the timing.
Lotus Varieties
Full-size lotus like 'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum', whose flowers change from pink to yellow, and the pink 'Carolina Queen' grow 3 to 6 feet tall and need large containers or a dedicated planting area. Bowl and dwarf lotus like the double 'Momo Botan Minima' stay around 1 to 2 feet tall and thrive in bowls, half-barrels and small patio containers. 'Chawan Basu', a semi-dwarf with white petals tipped in pink, sits in between.
Lotus are winter hardy to zone 4 as long as the roots don't freeze, and they return each spring after winter dormancy. In fall, move pots sitting in very shallow water (under 6 inches) to deeper water or a frost-free spot indoors. Each listing gives its own zone range.
Lotus in the Pond Ecosystem
Lotus leaves shade the water, which helps control algae and gives koi shelter. Lotus are vigorous growers and can take over a pond if they aren't contained, so always grow them in containers rather than straight in the pond bottom. If koi dig in the pots, cover the soil with stones. Combine lotus with hardy and tropical water lilies for color at more than one level, and add floating plants for more surface cover. Browse all pond plants.
Lotus ship on their own terms. They come from a special, limited-availability farm, so they can't be combined with other products for shipping, and shipping is a flat $18 however many tubers you order. Lotus ship in spring. Contact our team for lotus variety recommendations and growing tips.
