General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: In Water
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Leaves: Deciduous
Other: up to 2' diameter; may be held above water or may float
Fruit: Showy
Other: seeds and tuber-like underwater rootstock edible
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Yellow
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Bulb
Uses: Water gardens
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Fruit
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Propagation: Seeds: Scarify seeds
Other info: Seed is reputedly viable for decades, perhaps a thousand years!.
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Image
Common names
  • American Lotus
  • Great Yellow Water Lily
  • Rattle Nut
  • Water Chinquapin
  • Yellow Water Lotus
  • Lotus
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Nelumbo lutea
  • Synonym: Nelumbo pentapetala

Photo Gallery
Location: Summerton, SC
Date: 2020-07-25
How crazy-looking is this seed head?!  It's huge and I love it!
Location: Orlando Florida
Date: 2010-07-04
Native American Lotus
Location: Summerton, SC
Date: 2020-07-25
You can see the seeds poking out of the deep holes in the seed he
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2020-05-20
Location: Orlando Florida
Date: 2008-08-08
Native American Lotus
Location: Orlando Florida
Date: 2010-07-04
Native American Lotus
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: May 23, 2022
Yellow lotus #184. RAB page 451, 74-1-1. AG page 55, 6-3-1. "Nelu

credit: Cindy See
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden pond)
Date: June 10, 2022
Yellow lotus #184. RAB page 451, 74-1-1. AG page 55, 6-3-1. "Nelu

Photo: David Arbour
Location: Summerton, SC
Date: 2020-07-24
Wow what a beautiful flower!!  Not fully opened.

Photo: David Arbour
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden pond)
Date: June 10, 2022
Yellow lotus #184. RAB page 451, 74-1-1. AG page 55, 6-3-1. "Nelu
Location: Parc Floral de Paris in Vincennes, France.
Photo courtesy of:Moonik
Location: Summerton, SC
Date: 2020-07-24
I found this wonderful american lotus in the middle of a group of
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-06-07
Nelumbo letua - American Lotus 016
Photo by clintbrown
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: June 28, 2023
Yellow lotus #184; RAB page 451, 74-1-1; AG page 55, 6-3-1, "Nelu
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-03-04
These seedlings are 5 days old.
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: July 9, 1984
Yellow lotus #184. RAB page 451, 74-1-1. AG page 55, 6-3-1. "Nelu
Photo by clintbrown
Location: central Illinois (Sangchris State Park)
Date: 9-13-12
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-11-12
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-11-12
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: May 23, 2022
Yellow lotus #184. RAB page 451, 74-1-1. AG page 55, 6-3-1. "Nelu
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Boxborough, MA
Date: August
credit: liz west
Location: Summerton, SC
Date: 2020-07-24
Side-view of the beautiful yellow flower!  Not fully opened.
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: August 5, 2023
Yellow lotus #185; RAB page 451, 74-1-1. AG page 55, 6-3-1. "Nelu
Photo by clintbrown
Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-11-12
Location: DISCLAIMER: This is an old photo from an old phone. I don't know why, but the photos look "deep fried". sorry about that.
Photo by SongofJoy
Location: Fairfax, VA | September 2022
Date: 2022-09-03
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by dyzzypyxxy (Sarasota, Fl) on Aug 28, 2014 1:07 PM concerning plant:
    Beautiful water garden plant with velvety non-wettable leaves. Water drops roll around on them like mercury, to the delight of kids. Tubers are extremely fragile and must be handled gently when planting or transplanting. Any injury to the tuber results in rotting and death of the plant. Heavy feeder once it starts up, and water must warm to above 70deg. to start growth. Take care to grow in at least 4 hours of full sun per day for blooming.

    Many cultivars are too large for a small water garden, growing leaves 2ft. across and 5ft tall, but there are dwarf cultivars available that stay small enough for even a tub or half-barrel. Flowers are beautiful and fragrant, but rather fleeting, often lasting only 2 days in hot weather. The seed pods are interesting and decorative, but they should be removed if you want the plant to continue blooming.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Sep 8, 2018 10:57 AM concerning plant:
    There are two species of Lotus in the world. One is the Sacred or Indian Lotus of Asia and northern Australia, Nelumbo nucifera, which has white to pink flowers. The other is this American or Yellow Lotus (Nelumbo lutea), which is native from Honduras to Mexico and the Caribbean up through Florida to Texas up to Minnesota and southern Ontario into New England. It bears the white to yellow 4 to 11 inch wide, fragrant flowers with 22 to 25 petals in late spring into summer. Its bowl-like, round leaves are held 1 to 6 feet above the water. Its roots are anchored in the mud.
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Oct 17, 2014 4:37 PM concerning plant:
    In Illinois it is a perennial wildflower known as an emergent aquatic plant. Roots (large tuber) are anchored in mud, but leaves and flowers are held above water surface. Flowers mid to late summer for appx. a month and a half. Lives in lakes, swamps, ponds, slow rivers, wetlands, and areas prone to flood. Large colonies, as found along the Illinois River, are not uncommon.
    In the US it is native to the southeast, but has spread northward, reputedly by native Americans who brought it with them as it was/is a food source (the tuber and the seeds). Tuber or rhizome becomes very swollen and starchy late summer to fall. Seed is sometimes called "alligator corn."
    May be the plant referred to as "macoupin" in the native indian language Miami-Illinois. There is a county in Illinois named Macoupin.
  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on May 4, 2012 12:53 PM concerning plant:
    Honey bees get pollen from this plant.
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