Non-Grass: Sacred Lotus (Indian Lotus)
Nelumbo nucifera · Perennial Aquatic Macrophyte (Not a grass)
Grass Family
Nelumbonaceae (Not a member of Poaceae)
Grass Category
Ornamental Aquatic Plant / Wetland Plant
Variety / Cultivar
Likely a pink-flowering ornamental cultivar like 'Rosea Plena' or similar
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4-11 (rhizomes must not freeze); foliage dies back in winter (dormancy).
About This Grass
An aquatic perennial with large, peltate (central stalk) leaves and showy pink flowers reaching above water surface. Visible features include circular, waxy leaves and a solitary blossoms.
Blade Characteristics
Leaves are broad, circular (orbicular), 12-24 inches wide, blue-green, with distinct veins radiating from the center; not grass blades.
Root System
Deeply submerged fleshy rhizomes anchored in mud; forms dense colonies through vegetative spreading.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Asia and Northern Australia; widely cultivated in temperate and tropical wetlands globally
Growth Habit
Rhizomatous (stout, creeping underwater rhizomes producing long petioles)
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun (6+ hours); requires standing water or saturated mud; high water dependency; heat-loving.
Mowing & Maintenance
Not mown. Maintenance involves removing dead foliage in winter and occasional rhizome division to prevent overgrowth.
Special Characteristics
Leaves are super-hydrophobic (Lotus Effect); flowers are thermogenic; seeds can remain viable for centuries.
Ecological Information
Native to Asia; provides habitat for aquatic insects and fish; seeds and rhizomes are high-value food sources for wildlife and humans.