Nymphaea nouchali
BLUE WATER LILY
SKU: 397-005
Description
Nymphaea nouchali is often known by its synonym Nymphaea stellata, or by common names blue lotus, star lotus, blue star water lily or manel. It is a day-blooming plant. Part of the leaves are submerged, while others rise slightly above the surface. The leaves are round and green on top; they usually have a darker underside. The floating leaves have undulating edges that give them a crenellated appearance. Their size is about 20–23 cm and their spread is 0.9 to 1.8 m.
This water lily has a beautiful flower which violet blue in color with reddish edges. The flower has four or five sepals and 13-15 petals that have an angular appearance, making the flower look star-shaped from above. The cup-like calyx has a diameter of 11–14 cm.
Buddhist lore in Sri Lanka claims that this flower was one of the 108 auspicious signs found on Prince Siddhartha's footprint. It is said that when Buddha died, lotus flowers blossomed everywhere he had walked in his lifetime.
N. nouchali is used as an ornamental plant because of its spectacular flowers, and is most commonly used for the traditional and cultural festivals in Sri Lanka.
Type: Perennial
Hardiness zones: 10-11, or brought indoors for the winter in colder climates
Location: Sun
Seeds per pack: 5
Germination: Start these seeds indoors right away for best germination rates. Place the seeds in water. Germination is 4-12 weeks. Once the seed sprouts, plant it just under the surface of the soil, in a pot. Gently submerge the pot in water, with the water level about 1-2" above the soil level. The leaves will form over the next few weeks. Grow indoors for several months, and then plant outside the next spring after the change of frost and cold weather are far gone. If it is too cold in spring they will go dormant.
Description
Nymphaea nouchali is often known by its synonym Nymphaea stellata, or by common names blue lotus, star lotus, blue star water lily or manel. It is a day-blooming plant. Part of the leaves are submerged, while others rise slightly above the surface. The leaves are round and green on top; they usually have a darker underside. The floating leaves have undulating edges that give them a crenellated appearance. Their size is about 20–23 cm and their spread is 0.9 to 1.8 m.
This water lily has a beautiful flower which violet blue in color with reddish edges. The flower has four or five sepals and 13-15 petals that have an angular appearance, making the flower look star-shaped from above. The cup-like calyx has a diameter of 11–14 cm.
Buddhist lore in Sri Lanka claims that this flower was one of the 108 auspicious signs found on Prince Siddhartha's footprint. It is said that when Buddha died, lotus flowers blossomed everywhere he had walked in his lifetime.
N. nouchali is used as an ornamental plant because of its spectacular flowers, and is most commonly used for the traditional and cultural festivals in Sri Lanka.
Type: Perennial
Hardiness zones: 10-11, or brought indoors for the winter in colder climates
Location: Sun
Seeds per pack: 5
Germination: Start these seeds indoors right away for best germination rates. Place the seeds in water. Germination is 4-12 weeks. Once the seed sprouts, plant it just under the surface of the soil, in a pot. Gently submerge the pot in water, with the water level about 1-2" above the soil level. The leaves will form over the next few weeks. Grow indoors for several months, and then plant outside the next spring after the change of frost and cold weather are far gone. If it is too cold in spring they will go dormant.
