Nelumbo Pygmaea Red - Sacred Lotus

The Nelumbo 'Pygmaea Red', with flowers more pink than red, is a dwarf variety of sacred lotus that adapts well to small bodies of water and container gardening. It possesses all the attributes of the sacred lotus from India, but the plant is shorter and less vigorous. Its round leaves are also attractive, and the flowering extends over several weeks in summer. This dwarf lotus is hardy as long as its rhizome doesn't freeze. It can also be taken out of the water in autumn and kept frost-free, in slightly damp mud.

The Lotus 'Pygmaea Red' is a perennial plant from the Nelumbonaceae family. It is an aquatic plant with foliage and flowers that rise above the water, unlike water lilies. The native range of the species, Nelumbo nucifera, includes Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. In these regions, it inhabits large ponds and muddy canals, standing out majestically.

The 'Pygmaea Red' variety develops, starting from spring, green-blue leaves, more or less upright, with a flat or concave surface, slightly undulated along the edges. Water droplets projected on their surface bead up instead of spreading out due to the water-repellent quality of the epidermis. The entire and peltate lamina, measuring between 15 and 20 cm in diameter, attaches to the very brittle rhizome with a thin thorny petiole, fixed under the centre of the leaf. The plant will rise to about 55 cm above the water surface. The flowering begins in June-July and continues until autumn. The flowers, single, with petals in pink-red colour, measuring 10 cm in diameter, are solitary. They persist for several days before wilting and will be replaced by new flower buds. This flowering is followed by the formation of highly decorative fruits shaped like a watering can with small holes releasing the ripe seeds. It is often used in dried bouquets and contains numerous seeds that will eventually sink and germinate in the mud.

The Dwarf Lotus is ideal for small bodies of water and adapts to cultivation in various watertight containers that will decorate the terrace or balcony. The number of flowers produced depends on the size of the growing container. In a container with a diameter of 30 cm, the plant will produce between 3 and 8 flowers, 8 to 15 flowers in a 50 cm container, and up to 25 in a basin or barrel with an 80 cm diameter.

Lotuses and water lilies will be the main attraction of your pond plantings. Most of them bloom from spring until early autumn. The lotus is also an essential plant for maintaining the balance of a garden pond as it contributes to the oxygenation of the water. Its leaves provide shade and shelter for your fish, which, in return, protect them from predatory insects like aphids.

The entire plant is edible. The seeds are consumed candied, and the rhizome is a nutritious starch. The yellow stamens are used to flavour tea in Vietnam. The rhizome and seeds are also used in Chinese cosmetics to fight against ageing, as well as in medicine and the perfume industry.

The perfection of the flower and fruit of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) makes this aquatic plant a symbol of purity in several religions. In Buddhism, it derives its sacred character from the belief that Buddha appeared floating on its leaf. In Hinduism, it is perceived as the cradle of the universe.