Water lily and lotus difference

These two aquatic flowers may appear similar, but they have definite distinctions.

Water lilies Nymphaea and Lotus Nelumbo are jewels of the aquatic world. Symbolic in both the ancient and modern world, they are celebrated for their beauty and immortalized in art and religion. Both are pond blooming plants that emerge from rhizomes and share a rich color palette, but there are some easy ways to tell them apart:. Many of both plants are easy to grow and reward the gardener with fragrant and sumptuous blossoms from June until October. There are two main divisions of water lilies: hardy and tropical. Hardy ones will survive our New York City winters if they are planted below the freezing line in a water feature, while tropical water lilies need to be stored over the winter or treated as annuals.

Water lily and lotus difference

Many park visitors come to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for birding, hiking, and photography. However, the vast majority of visitors stop by the Gardens during the summer months to witness the floral spectacular of the lotus and water lilies in peak bloom. There are only two species of lotus in the genus Nelumbo Asian and American , however there are many varieties within the Asian species. Many people revere them as they often symbolize purity, resilience, and rebirth. The lotus flower petals at the park are pink, yellow, white, or a combination of these three colors. Peak bloom for the lotus plants at the Gardens is June through August with some early or late bloomers in May and September, respectively. Lotus are unique in that they have a super hydrophobic surface which means that they do not like water. They possess a waxy coating that prevents the plant from getting wet or dirty. Water that lands on its surface will be repelled and carry with it dirt and mud leaving the plant with a clean appearance. All water lilies fall under the genus Lilium and family Nymphaeaceae. The water lilies at the Gardens typically bloom from about mid-April through mid-September. There are two primary water lilies found at the Gardens: hardy and tropical. Hardy water lilies are able to withstand colder temperatures. They are perennial plants that overwinter in the ponds and bloom every spring.

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The lotus and the water lily are two beautiful flowers that often get confused. They are typically referred to as one and the same, but there are distinct differences between them. Lotus and water lilies are both beautiful aquatic plants, but they come from different families. The lotus is part of the Nelumbonaceae family, while water lilies belong to the Nymphaeaceae family. Both plants have been around for centuries, but the lotus was originally found in eastern Asia. Though they share similar characteristics like colorful flowers that rise above the surface of a pond or lake, these two plants have distinct features that set them apart. The lotus has a long stem with leaves that float on top of the water; its flowers only open during the day and close at night. The two plants have also adapted differently to their environment; lotuses are able to survive in muddy ponds, while water lilies need cleaner waters with less sediment to thrive.

Water lily and lotus difference

If you are confused by these two gorgeous aquatic plants, it is not a surprise because they are similar enough that they are often considered the same plant. For example, Talay Bua Daeng in Thailand, traditionally called Red Lotos See, despite its name, does not have a single lotus and features pink water lilies. If you want to clean up the dilemma and learn once and for all how to distinguish them, just keep reading! The main difference between water lilies and lotus is leaf structure, flower size, and cultural significance. Water lilies have floating leaves and large fragrant blooms, while lotus have leaves rising above water and showy cup-shaped flowers. In addition to belonging to different plant families and having different origins, the primary, visible difference between these plants is that the leaves and flowers of the water lily float on the water surface. Unfortunately, there is an exception here. Namely, water lilies of tropical origin can also stand above the water surface. These plants differ in the color and shape of the leaves, the size, and the color of the flowers.

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Environment Weather Outdoors Conservation. Clean off dead or dying leaves in the same manner. Environment Planet Earth. Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer specializing in wildlife conservation, technology, and food. The water lilies at the Gardens typically bloom from about mid-April through mid-September. Lotus flowers also tend to be larger than lilies, measuring 12 inches across in some cases. Develop and improve services. In News. Water Gardening by Perry D. Since rhizomes creep across the surface of the soil, a wider pot is preferred to a deep one. Lotus will be hardy if the tuberous rhizomes do not freeze. You must be logged in to post a comment.

These two aquatic flowers may appear similar, but they have definite distinctions. Katherine Martinko is an expert in sustainable living.

Leave a Reply You must be logged in to post a comment. Each flower on the water lily lasts 3 to 5 days. Katherine Martinko is an expert in sustainable living. Develop and improve services. To ensure many blooms, cut the dying flowers as they sink below the surface. S62 Cut them down to a few inches above the rhizome. Tips and Troubleshooting Make sure that your water lily or lotus gets enough sunlight, ideally six hours or more. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data. Once the plant is established, the pot can remain at the desired depth. Place them in the center of the container and let the crown root-stem junction of the plant rest just above the surface of the soil. Water Lilies: There are two main divisions of water lilies: hardy and tropical. Fertilize plants once a month. You must be logged in to post a comment.