Nelumbo lutea (American Lotus)
| Also known as: | Wab-bis-sa-pin, Tewape, Water-Chinquapin, Sacred Bean |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Nelumbo |
| Family: | Nelumbonaceae (Lotus-lily) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | sun; shallow, quiet water; floodplains and backwaters of major rivers, some lakes |
| Bloom season: | July - September |
| Plant height: | to 6 feet deep water |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: OBL MW: OBL NCNE: OBL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flowers]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/nelumbo-lutea-7.jpg)
A single flower at the tip of a stout naked stalk rising up to 3 feet above the water's surface. Flowers are large, 4 to 10 inches (10 to 25 cm) diameter with up to 30 pale yellow petals. In the center are numerous slender, yellow-orange stamens surrounding a yellow to orange, cone-shaped, pitted receptacle.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/nelumbo-lutea-015.jpg)
Leaves are round, 12 to 28 inches (30 to 70 cm) diameter, toothless, hairless, often curly around the edges forming a shallow bowl, and attached centrally to long sturdy stalk arising from the submerged tuberous rhizome on the water's muddy bottom. Leaves rise a foot or more above the surface of the water, but not above the flowers, and can flatten out and become floating later in the season. Large, dense colonies are typically formed.
Fruit:
![[photo of developing fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/nelumbo-lutea-89724389-7.jpg)
The receptacle enlarges up to 4 inches (10 cm) diameter as fruit develops, with seeds forming in the pits. Seeds are round to oval, about ½ inch (10 to 16 mm) long and mature to dark brown.
Notes:
This is Minnesota's largest native wildflower bloom—it cannot be confused with any other native aquatic plant. The large, round leaves connected to the stalk in the middle of the blade distinguish it from water and pond lilies. Lotus is mostly restricted to backwaters of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, with some persistent inland lake populations.
Dried receptacles are available at some craft stores and used in flower arrangements, though it is not certain that all those available in such stores are native lotus. It's been noted that the seed of this species can remain viable for several centuries. I believe I once read that Egyptian white lotus (Nymphaea lotus), held sacred by the ancient Egyptians, the seed found the tombs of Pharaohs was still viable. Talk about Eternal Life!
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More photos
a colony of American Lotus
a colony of American Lotus with White Water Lily in the foreground
plants rising above the water
late season plant, developing fruit
flowers are pale yellow
dried receptacle at a craft store
a colony of American Lotus
a colony of American Lotus with White Water Lily in the foreground
plants rising above the water
late season plant, developing fruit
flowers are pale yellow
dried receptacle at a craft storePhotos by Peter M. Dziuk taken in Dakota, Wabasha and Winona counties, and a local craft store.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2012-07-23 13:52:30
N. lutea is abundant in the backwaters of Pool 8 (near Houston Co.) of the Mississippi River.
on: 2013-08-07 22:30:33
13 years ago I saw a large pond of Am. Lotus south of the Ford Bridge in the backwaters of the Mississippi on the St. Paul side. I think there was a name for this area, but don't remember it or how to get there. The lotus were amazing. Do you know about this place?
on: 2014-06-13 17:18:14
I believe Sue might be referring to Pickerel Lake in Lilydale Regional Park near downtown St. Paul. The lake is east of the Mississippi River just down from Harriet Island on West Water Street. I have not seen a live lotus plant there, but I was at the lake this spring, and I saw some lotus seed ponds near shore. It was unmistakable. I plan to keep tabs on the lake this summer in hopes of spotting an actual lotus plant.
on: 2015-08-27 19:54:39
Seen 8/27/15. Haven't noticed Lotus in Cleary Lake previous years. Large patch located on the southwest part of the lake near the island at the west end of Park Rd.
on: 2017-08-20 13:41:55
Blooming right now on the Mississippi River along Grey Cloud Trail.
on: 2017-09-14 08:05:44
Seen off the NE side of the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge.
on: 2018-02-02 05:34:25
Anyone know what happened to the lotus beds in Snelling lake? After the big water a few years back nothing find it hard to believe.
on: 2018-08-14 04:23:13
Our pond had a large bed of water lotus and this year almost nothing. What would cause that to happen? someone sprayed the cattails on the pond this year, could that kill them? I have pictures of the lotus before and after.
on: 2019-08-12 17:52:41
Huge colony now in bloom. Gorgeous.
on: 2020-07-29 16:58:29
Large colony in bloom on the SE end of Bush Lake
on: 2020-11-06 21:05:12
I came across white lotus in White tail regional park in the empire lake. So lovely! I had to use a small boat to access them. Near farmington.
on: 2021-08-15 14:29:18
Nelumbo lutea (American Lotus) is in Cleary Lake on the south side of the lake. Its blooming right now. I got out of my kayak to take some pictures of it just off the shore of a camp site area a few feet north of the public boat launch.
on: 2023-09-09 16:26:20
We have large pockets of lotus on the east shore of Lotus Lake.
on: 2024-05-16 02:23:15
A colony of American lotus is growing at the east end of Empire Lake in Whitetail Woods Regional Park. It keeps expanding in size every year.
on: 2024-07-10 10:40:13
This year (2024), there is a colony of American lotus in Century Pond (near Century College) growing together with the water lilies.
on: 2024-08-14 11:29:34
Large colonies between Cooks Bay and Spring Park Bay