Nelumbo nucifera (Sacred Lotus)

Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred Lotus, is the most spectacular of all ornamental pond plants, raising enormous bowl-shaped pink and white flowers up to 30 cm across on tall stems above the water surface, followed by ornamental seed pods valued in dried arrangements. Sacred in many Asian cultures and revered for its beauty across the world, it is grown in Dutch and Belgian water gardens as a premium centrepiece plant. Requires a warm, sunny Belgian summer to flower reliably. Plant rhizomes in containers in 20–50 cm of water.

Grow in large, heavy containers of aquatic loam in full sun. Submerge container in 20–50 cm of water. Feed with aquatic plant fertilizer tablets monthly during the growing season. Overwinter rhizomes frost-free: store in damp compost or submerged in a frost-proof greenhouse. Remove spent flowers and seed heads to encourage continued blooming.