The beautiful lotus plant is typically found in Australia and Southern Asia. However, a few species thrive in the United States. These plants are sensitive to drastic temperature fluctuations and require a stable, warm climate.
Aside from their significance in many religions, lotus flowers are sought after for their gorgeous decoration of ponds, water gardens, and other water features. Not only that, they are edible and, in some countries, are used medicinally to treat inflammation and prevent oral infections; you can read about that here.
The 36 Types of Lotus Flowers
1. Alba Grandiflora Lotus
The Alba Grandiflora is a cultivated variety of the Nelumbo nucifera. Its attractive fragrant flower is generally pink. However, it can range in color from white to rose. Different sizes have been developed for ponds and smaller containers as interior decorations.
2. American Lotus
The Nelumbo lutea, also known as the American lotus, is one of the few lotus varieties native to North America. As its Latin name hints, the flowers of this plant can be white to pale yellow. Sadly, this species has become endangered due to changing habitats. Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog wears a dress made from a yellow American lotus.
3. Carolina Queen Lotus
This beautiful large-petaled variation of the Nelumbo nucifera has exquisite rose-colored flowers, often with a faint hint of orange towards the center. Due to its average height of 4 to 6 feet, the Carolina Queen is best suited for medium to large ponds.
4. Dancing Phoenix Lotus
Another smaller member of the Nelumbo nucifera family is the Dancing Phoenix. It typically has long, white petals tipped with pink. This lotus is considered a dwarf plant, so they are best suited as decorative container plants, but they can still grow 1–2 feet tall in the right environment.
5. Debbie Gibson Lotus
Is that flower glowing!? No, that’s just the yellow-tinted petals of the Debbie Gibson lotus in the sun. Perry Slocum first hybridized this lotus in 1989. Once established, this free-flowering lotus easily produces large flowers to fill a medium to large pond.
6. Empress Lotus
The Empress truly brings royalty to mind. This Chinese lotus commonly has soft white petals extending to delicate red or purple tips, and the same color in the tips usually streaks throughout the petal. The Empress is a remarkable work of Nature’s art.
7. Evening Shower Lotus
Like the Empress, the Evening Shower is white with purple tips. However, the purple is not as pronounced and gives the petal a slight purple tinge and darkens towards the edges. As a dwarf plant, it is better suited for small tubs or ponds.
8. Feng Wu Lotus
One characteristic of the Feng Wu that makes it stand out is its stunning contrasting colors. It typically goes from a light yellow in the center to purple-tinted white petals and finishes in violet at the tips. It is a luscious, medium-sized plant suited for pots, tubs, and small ponds.
9. Golden Monkey Lotus
This early-blooming lotus plant is bold and unique. It has long, slender petals that give it a unique bloom, and its pink tips stand out against the rest of its golden color. Growing to almost 2 feet on average, it is considered a medium to large lotus and can be expected to bloom faithfully.
10. Green Maiden Lotus
If you want a delicate and pretty addition to your garden feature, the Green Maiden might be the dwarf lotus for you. The brilliant yellow receptacles are contrasted by the petals’ soft shades of yellow, pink, and green. One unique characteristic of this lotus is the subtle changes in color as it blooms.
11. Green Star Lotus
There is something elegant about the contrasting colors of the Green Star. Its green receptacle compliments the leaves below and contrasts its soft white petals, making them stand out.
12. Gui Li Lotus (Magnificent Lotus)
The Gui Li truly lives up to its nickname—the Magnificent lotus—with its majestic red blooms. There is so much color in varying shades between golden receptacles and red petals; the flowers are sure to turn heads. If given enough space, they can grow to 4 feet or taller!
13. Heavy Storm Lotus
This unique flower features layers of petals. Larger petals form the base, then layer after layer, they get smaller and curl upwards to form a “storm” of whites and pinks. This lotus is also massive, and if given enough space, it can grow 4–5 feet tall.
14. Ittenshikai Lotus
Compared to some of the other lotuses, the Ittenshikai has a plainer-looking flower. It features cupped white petals with pink edges. Its beauty is in its simplicity and pairs nicely with more exotic lotuses like the Magnificent or Carolina Queen.
15. Jin Se Lotus
The Jin Se is a prime example of how gorgeous a Versicolor lotus can be. Its golden center fades out to a pink finish at the tips. Another distinct feature of this double-flower lotus is its tight curly inner petals that almost give the appearance of a ball opening up.
16. Kermesina Lotus
As another lotus from the Nelumbo nucifera family, the sun-hungry Kermesina Lotus has a simple yet elegant quality. It is beautiful, andits bulbs and seeds are often used in Chinese cooking. It grows 3–6 feet above the water and is suited for a larger pond.
17. Lavender Lady Lotus
Another Perry Slocum hybrid, the beautiful Lavender Lady, towers above luscious greenery. As you look toward the golden receptacle, the pink petals have a subtle yellow hue. This lotus is generally 4 feet or taller when planted in adequate-sized containers.
18. Mini Chu Lady Lotus
Even though the Mini Chu Lady is considered a micro lotus, it’s still packed with elegance. More is involved in caring for mico lotuses, and many skilled lotus growers include the Mini Chu Lady in their collections. It is considered to be a bountiful bloomer as well.
19. Momo Botan Lotus
The Momo Botan is not native to North America but was among the first variations brought from Asia. It is classified as a dwarf bowl lotus, which is evident by its petite size and the characteristic bowl shape of its pink petals. This dainty plant is meant for wide shallow pots and only grows 13 inches.
20. Tower of Day and Night Lotus
Out of the many lotus flower variations, the Tower of Day and Night lotus is one of the most fragrant. It has a unique shape, almost like a tall cylinder that has opened up, exposing several tiny pink or red petals.
21. Fairy of Peony Lotus
The Fairy of Peony is a new bowl lotus cultivar this year but has become incredibly popular among growers. At first glance, the first thing that comes to mind is how similar it looks to a peony. Its white leaves gently fold upwards in a bowl shape, almost encasing the bulb-like, green receptacle.
22. White Fairy Lotus
Another micro lotus in our list that does not disappoint is the White Fairy. There is something about these tiny lotus flowers that packs so much allure. While not classified as a bowl lotus, the White Fairy has the characteristic upward curl of one. The White Fairy’s petals are primarily white, with a smattering of pink at the tips and yellow towards the center.
23. Taoxi Flying Snow Lotus
When you think another plain, white lotus will be boring, you get to feast your eyes on the Taoxi Flying Snow. The unique design of this lotus, with its peaked white petals encasing a yellow receptacle, is breathtaking to behold. And the size of this lotus makes it the perfect addition to your small water feature.
24. Butterfly’s Love Lotus
The Butterfly’s Love lotus has gorgeous yellow, white, and purple versicolor flowers and has been around for about 32 years and is still popular today. While it is not a bowl or micro lotus, it adapts well when planted in a container. However, placing it in a small pot will cause it to only bloom with a tiny flower.
25. Brilliant Sunset Lotus
Versicolor lotuses are beautiful, but the Brilliant Sunset lotus takes it to a new level. With yellows, oranges, and varying shades of pink, it looks like a sunset painted on a beautiful white backdrop. When the setting sun hits this flower, it explodes even more in fiery color.
26. Little Dancing Empress Lotus
The Little Dancing Empress is a bowl lotus, and it’s one of a kind. Not only is it a gorgeous yellow and pink versicolor, but as it unfolds in its characteristic bowl shape, the tips of the double petals twist and shrivel at the tips. As the flower sways in a gentle breeze, it lives up to its name and appears to dance.
27. Raining Love Lotus
The Raining Love is a Versicolor lotus similar to the Brilliant Sunset lotus with pinks, yellows, and oranges, but it doesn’t have any white, so it looks different as the sun hits it. One thing that sets it apart is how big the flowers are—typically measuring 7½ inches—which is quite significant considering the flower doesn’t even grow to 2 feet.
28. Big Versicolor Lotus
With a name like Big Versicolor, one would expect that not only is it big, but it is also bursting with color. This lotus does not disappoint on either level. Its flowers measure 7 inches, and the double flowers are a mixture of red, purple, and green on a base of white and yellow. And if that wasn’t enough color, the buds are streaked with the same colors.
29. Oriental Red Lotus
This relative of another red lotus, Magnificent, shares the same striking red coloration. It is such a dark red at the base that it almost appears black in the proper lighting. Like its sibling, it has proven to be a great grower, and it blooms abundantly. It would make a great addition to a large water feature with dark foliage.
30. Heart Blood Lotus
Another small bowl lotus with a big presence is the Heart Blood lotus. The flower is 3–4 inches long and is suited for growing in a small container as a table decoration. One unique characteristic of the Heart Blood is how it changes. As it reflowers, it comes back different; sometimes, it is a traditional bowl shape and other times, it’s entirely different.
31. Midnight Lotus
Depending on how the light hits the Midnight Lotus, it can be a dark red or purple. It also has a unique-shaped, orange receptacle. But the most remarkable trait of this double-petal lotus is that each flower can have up to 112 petals!
32. Pink Marshmallow Lotus
Although the Pink Marshmallow looks like a strawberry treat, it transforms into an exquisite white flower with pink tips within 3 days. During the summer, the lotus blooms in overdrive; often 2 or 3 flowers bloom at a time.
33. Misty Rain Lotus
While many micro lotuses can be challenging to grow, the Misty Rain is beginner-friendly. It will only produce one pink flower per tuber due to how small they are. If you are looking for a classic lotus, this is the one. Remember, even though this is an easy lotus to grow, it requires full sun, so it cannot be kept indoors.
34. Pink Apricot Lotus
Even if towering over the pond and other lotuses at 62–70 inches didn’t stand out enough, the long, striated petals of the Pink Apricot will catch eyes and turn heads all day long. It doesn’t have to be a prominent water feature; the lotus will bloom well in an appropriate container in your outdoor living space.
35. Drunken Hibiscus Lotus
The Drunken Hibiscus would fit the bill if one were to describe a flower as beauty in chaos. This brilliant Versicolor lotus has hues of yellow and white throughout the petals, and each petal tip is dipped in pink. This lotus shines, especially when it is grown in a bowl.
36. Single Colorful Brocade Lotus
The unique petals on the Single Colorful Brocade cause it to stand out in a category of flowers where many look almost identical. While it has traditional yellow and pink petals, it has the most incredible flat petals that sweep out and up as it opens to soak up the sun.
Related Read:43 Common Types of Flowers in the US (with Pictures)
Lotus Plants Are Worth The Effort
It is tempting to think that the lotus flower is limited to what we see in movies or TV. But after only a few minutes of browsing, it becomes apparent that the options for lotus shapes, colors, and sizes are almost endless. Even if you live somewhere that is not an appropriate climate for a lotus pond in the backyard, there are still options, such as hardier cultivars or indoor greenhouse water gardens. Few things in life compare to the breathtaking beauty of lotus flowers, and we’ve discussed several varieties that can bring life and vibrant color to your home and yard.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
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