Lotus Vs. Water Lilies, What’s The Difference?

In the world of flowering aquatic plants, nothing beats a water lily or a lotus flower.

You probably are already aware of the similarities between water lilies and lotus plants, so let’s get down to the differences.

The biggest difference is that water lilies (Nymphaea species) leaves and flowers both float on the water’s surface while lotus (Nelumbo species) leaves and flowers are emergent, or rise above the water’s surface. There is one exception: tropical water lilies leaves float on the surface just like hardy lilies but their flowers rise above the surface of the water about 6-8 inches.

Both water lilies and lotus have dwarf varieties which are perfect for container patio ponds, and in some cases small enough for patio tabletop bowls.

A standard lotus will eventually grow to have it’s leaves and flowers 4-6 ft. above the water, maybe less in a container where their size is more controlled. Dwarf varieties will be just a few inches above the water.

Lotus plants will also need more fertilizer than water lilies.

There is a height and size difference also. A standard lotus flower is larger than a water lily flower, reaching up to one foot across (about 30.5 cm.). A full-sized lotus plant’s foliage and flowers can reach up to 60 inches (152 cm.) above the water.

Other Differences

Most varieties of water lily have to variegation or coloration besides green on their foliage but some do. Most ‘variegated’ varieties have green leaves mottled with a dark purple or are completely dark purple. Most are the tropical types of water lilies.

When it comes to lotus on the other hand, I don’t believe there are any variegated varieties, at least that I know of. So when it comes to color, it’s all in the flowers when growing lotus.

Some Varieties We Suggest

Hardy Water Lilies: (Nymphaea)

• Nymphea ‘Blue Aster’ is a standard sized water lily with light blue flowers and green and purple variegated foliage. A good choice for larger containers.
• Nymphea ‘Helvola’ is a day flowering miniature water lily with light yellow flowers.

Tropical Water Lilies:

• Nymphea ‘Tropic Sunset’ is a standard sized day blooming tropical water lily having red and green variegated leaves and flowers with bright yellow stamens and bright pink pedals.

Lotus: (Nelumbo)

• Nelumbo ‘Bali Red’ is a medium sized lotus plant that can reach 3-4 ft. out of the water and has beautiful flowers that range from pink to red.

Tips for Clear Pond Water

• Don't overfertilize plants; you'll feed the algae that turn pond water green.
• Don't overfeed the fish or have too many fish for the size of the pond.
• Remove decaying vegetation.
• Make sure 60 percent of the pond is shaded by lily pads or other plants.
• Keep water well-oxygenated with aerators, fountains, or waterfalls.
• Don't kill algae with chemical treatments; that will hurt plants, fish, and beneficial bacteria that live in the pond.

How to Winterize Water Lilies

Begin getting your hardy water lilies ready for winter by removing all dead and dying foliage. If the pond freezes solid in your climate or is drained for the winter, remove the lily, pot and all. Store the entire pot by keeping it cool and moist in a plastic bag. If you can't store the whole pot, remove and clean the growing tuber and store it in peat moss at 40 to 50 degrees F.

If the pond doesn't freeze solid, don't remove the pot. Simply lower it to the deepest part of the pond, where water will not freeze. In spring, bring the pot back to the proper growing level in the pond. If you've dug up and stored the tuber, repot as if it were a new plant.