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.

The water lilies at the Gardens typically bloom from about mid-April through mid-September. Given their tough nature, hardy water lilies are commonly found in local lakes, ponds, and slow-moving waterways. Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer specializing in wildlife conservation, technology, and food.

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These two aquatic flowers may appear similar, but they have definite distinctions. Katherine Martinko is an expert in sustainable living. It might be easy at first to get these two aquatic flowers mixed up, but they have definite distinctions. In fact, though these are both flowers found in water, they actually belong to two separate families of flowers. It is also easy to tell them apart at a glance once you know what to look for.

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. Water lilies belong to the family Nimphaaceae which includes about 60 plant species, classified into two basic types: hardy water lilies native to North America and tropical water lilies native to the Amazon region.

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While not as spectacular in color as the tropical water lilies, hardy water lilies do come in variations of white, pink and yellow. The lily pads have a serrated edge as opposed to the smooth edge seen in hardy water lily pads. You will find these flowers in the display ponds behind the visitor center from June through mid-September. There are plenty of options available on the market in all colors and sizes. Many of both plants are easy to grow and reward the gardener with fragrant and sumptuous blossoms from June until October. Lily leaves have a cut that goes from the edge to the center, used to drain water back into the pond, while lotus leaves are fully intact. Remember to use good maintenance practices; clean off old, yellowing leaves and spent flowers to keep your plant healthy. In addition to cold hardiness, tropical water lilies differ from hardy water lilies in the following ways:. Newsletter Sign Up. All water lilies fall under the genus Lilium and family Nymphaeaceae. LuEsther T. Japanese Garden Design.

The main difference between water lily and lotus is that water lily belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae, whereas lotus belongs to the family Nelumbonaceae.

N4 B55 LuEsther T. You will find these flowers in the display ponds behind the visitor center from June through mid-September. Create profiles to personalise content. Seed pods form and the ripe seeds fall into the soil below. By Jaymi Heimbuch Jaymi Heimbuch. Many people revere them as they often symbolize purity, resilience, and rebirth. Measure content performance. A water lily also has a recognizable notch in each leaf. Lotuses require more fertilization than lilies and a bigger pot in which to grow. Be patient with them in the spring as they are late to emerge. In News. Art and Ornamentation in the Garden. Each flower on the water lily lasts 3 to 5 days.