Nymphaea lotus (T/N) | Egyptian waterlily

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Other common names

Egyptian bean, Egyptian lotus, Egyptian white lotus, Indian bean, Indian lotus, Indian water lily, sacred bean, sacred lotus, sacred water lily, white lotus of the Nile, Hungarian lotus, Hungarian waterlily

Synonyms

Nymphaea thermalis

Aquatic

A tropical, deciduous aquatic perennial with oval-shaped, green to reddish-brown leaves with purple spots. Fragrant, star-shaped white flowers with yellow centres appear from summer through until the autumn. Tropical waterlillies can be grown in milder areas within the UK but should be lifted and stored over winter in a warm greenhouse

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Nymphaeaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Submerged, Floating
Genus: Nymphaea are rhizomatous, submerged aquatic perennials with floating, rounded leaves and showy, sometimes fragrant, cup- or bowl-shaped flowers in a wide range of colours, held on or above the water and followed by submerged, berry-like fruits
Name Status: Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: Tropical water lily have large, vibrant, jewel-like flowers, some fragrant, and glossy pads. As they require warm water and full sun, they are grown as annuals in colder climates or overwintered indoors

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in undisturbed water in full sun. Plant in baskets in loamy soil with crowns just below soil surface and covered with pea shingle. Position basket so that it is covered by 15-25cm of water; as the plants establish gradually lower the plants to a depth of 50-70cm. Feed during the growing season with aquatic fertiliser at the manufacturer's recommended rate. Lift and store in a warm greenhouse over winter. See waterlily cultivation for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by division of rhizomes or offsets in summer, place pots in shallow water until established

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Deadhead and remove yellow leaves regularly

Pests

May be susceptible to brown china-mark moth, false leaf-mining midge, water lily beetle and water lily aphid. See waterlily pests for more details

Diseases

May be susceptible to brown spot, crown rot and water lily leaf spot