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American Lotus - Plant Information
Nelumbo lutea
Community Discussions about American Lotus
The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is generally described as a Perennial Forb or herb. This Dicot (dicotyledon) is native to the U.S. (United States) and has its most active growth period in the Summer . The American Lotus has Green foliage and conspicuous Yellow flowers, with conspicuous Brown fruits or seeds. The greatest bloom is usually observed in the Mid Summer, with fruit and seed production starting in the Summer and continuing until Fall. Leaves are not retained year to year. The American Lotus has a Long life span relative to most other plant species and a Moderate growth rate. At maturity, the typical American Lotus will reach up to 3 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of 3 feet.
The American Lotus is easily found in nurseries, garden stores and other plant dealers and distributors. It can be propagated by Bare Root, Bulbs and Seed. It has a Moderate ability to spread through seed production and the seedlings have Medium vigor. Note that cold stratification is not required for seed germination and the plant cannot survive exposure to temperatures below -36°F. American Lotus has None tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions.
See more details about American Lotus
Plant Name Synonyms
- Nelumbium luteum
- Nelumbo pentapetala
USDA Plant Status
- Connecticut: Potentially invasive, banned
- Michigan: Threatened
- New Jersey: Endangered
- Pennsylvania: Endangered
- Federal: Obligate Wetland
- Central Plains U.S.: Obligate Wetland
- North Central U.S.: Obligate Wetland
- Northeast U.S.: Obligate Wetland
- South Plains U.S.: Obligate Wetland
- Southeast U.S.: Obligate Wetland
Plant Distribution
American Lotus can be found in Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Nebraska (NE), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Pennsylvania (PA), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Virginia (VA) and Wisconsin (WI)
Taxonomy
- Plantae | Kingdom
- Magnoliophyta | Division
- Magnoliopsida | Class
- Nymphaeales | Order
- Nelumbonaceae | Family
- Nelumbo | Genus
Related Plants
| Common Characteristics | Data for American Lotus |
|---|---|
| Plant Basics | |
| Category | Dicot |
| General Type | Forb/herb |
| Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Growth Period | Summer |
| Growth Duration | Perennial |
| Lifespan | Long |
| Plant Nativity | Native to U.S. |
| Commercial Availability | Routinely Available |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Bloom Period | Mid Summer |
| Displays Fall Colors | No |
| Shape/Growth Form |
Rhizomatous(options) |
| Shape & Orientation |
Erect(options) |
| Drought Tolerance |
None(options) |
| Shade Tolerance |
Intolerant(options) |
| Height When Mature | 3 feet |
| Vegetative Spread Rate |
Rapid(options) |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Conspicuousness | Yes |
| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuousness | Yes |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance | Medium |
| Fruit/Seed Seasonality | Summer–Fall |
| Seed Spread Rate |
Moderate
(options)
with seedling vigor |
| Gardening Characteristics | |
| Propagations (Ways to Grow) | Bare Root, Bulbs and Seed |
| Moisture Requirements |
High(options) |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Minimum Temperature | -36°F |
| Soil Depth for Roots | 12 inches minimum |
| Toxic to Nearby Plants | No |
| Toxic to Livestock | No |
| After-Harvest Resprout Ability | No |
| Responds to Coppicing | No |
| Growth Requirements | |
| pH Range | 4.6–7.4 pH |
| Precipitation Range | 0–0 inches/yr |
| Planting Density | 302–1,746 indiv./acre |
| Soil Textures | Coarse, Fine and Medium |
| Minimum Frost-Free Days | 130 days |
| Salinity Tolerance | None (options) |
| Carbon:Nitrogen (C:N) Ratio | Medium (options) |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Medium (options) |
| Sustainability & Use | |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Palatablity | humans |
| Fire Resistant | No |
Source: USDA, NRCS, PLANTS Database, plants.usda.gov.
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA
