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Sacred Lotus

Nelumbo nucifera

Found in ponds, lakes, canals. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height
3–6 feet
Spread
3–4 feet
Light
Full sun
Soil moisture
Wet to standing water
See native alternatives

Plant this instead

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  • Orange Coneflower
    Rudbeckia fulgida

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Black, yellow or orange.

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season

  • Marsh Eryngo
    Eryngium aquaticum

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to standing water. Flowers: Blue, purple or white.

    Similar growth form, spread, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle
Annual or perennial
Leaves
Evergreen
Bloom
June to September

Recorded in 5 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Ponds, lakes and their shores

Georgia pond and emergent wetland
Regional / representative. Shown: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Georgia; representative pond ecosystem, a neighboring state.Georgia pond and emergent wetland, Robert 'Bob' Hynes, 1997. Public domain. Source record.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

6CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Nelumbo

  • Bellura obliquaCattail Border Moth, Cattail Diver
  • Elophila gyralisWaterlily Borer Moth
  • Elophila obliteralisWaterlily Leafcutter Moth
  • Ostrinia penitalisAmerican Lotus Borer, Lily Moth
  • Parapoynx maculalisPolymorphic Pondweed Moth
  • Psara obscuralisObscure Psara Moth
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Nelumbonaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–10b
Flower color
Pink or white

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Oriental Lotus Lily; Pink Lotus Lily; Sacred Lotus Lily

Conservation status

Florida rankSNA
Global rankG5
FL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources