Bring a touch of dramatic, exotic beauty to your garden pond with our American Lotus seeds. Despite looking like a tropical flower, this stunning perennial is native to the U.S. and hardy to Zone 4. It produces huge, circular, plate-like leaves that float on the water's surface, followed by spectacular, creamy yellow blooms that rise above the foliage. This magnificent centerpiece thrives in muddy, shallow water, making it a perfect, low-maintenance focal point for any water feature.
What you'll love
- Huge, spectacular, creamy yellow flowers and massive, floating leaves.
- A stunning centerpiece that brings an exotic look despite being U.S. native.
- A hardy perennial that will return year after year in cold climates (Zone 4).
- The seeds and young roots (rhizomes) are traditionally edible.
Seed details
- Plant Name: American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea)
- Seed Quantity: Approx. 5 seeds
- Type: US Native Wildflower, Aquatic, Heirloom, Open Pollinated, Non-GMO
- Lifecycle: Perennial
- Height: Flowers 3-4 feet above water surface
- Days to Maturity: Blooms 2-3 years from seed
- USDA Zone: 4-11
- Origin: American Grown
Growing instructions
- Pre-treatment (Required): American Lotus seeds have a tough, impermeable seed coat. To encourage sprouting, the seed must be scarified by filing the side of the seed coat until the pale yellow center is barely visible.
- Soaking/Sprouting: Soak the scarified seeds in water until they sprout (usually 2-4 weeks), changing the water every day. Please note: Both seeds that float and seeds that sink will be viable.
- Planting: Plant the sprouted seed carefully in small peat pots just covered in water. The emerging stem is a leaf, not a taproot.
- Care: Plant in muddy, shallow water (up to six feet deep). Plant in large containers immersed in the water to control spreading, as this plant dislikes being disturbed at its roots.
Our seed packets
- Professionally designed and made.
- Resealable for convenient, long-term storage.
- Eco-friendly and recyclable (contains no plastic).
- Includes full, detailed growing instructions.
- Vigorously tested to ensure the highest germination rates.