A Business Guide to the Types of Lotus You Can Grow and Sell

The Two Core Lotus Species

Most lotus plants, including beautiful flowers like the pink lotus and manchurian lotus, in gardens, farms, and restoration projects trace back to two core species: Asian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and American lotus (Nelumbo lutea). While both share the same foundation—roots secured in mud, long stems thrusting through the water to the surface, and big peltate leaves—they vary significantly in flower color, shape, and cultural significance. Their leaf stalks may be up to 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) long, allowing them to thrive in water that deep, with leaf blades spreading to 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches). Upon reaching the surface, the leaves unfurl and lie flat on or hover above the water, frequently achieving a diameter of up to 60 centimeters (24 inches). In perfect conditions, a few leaves can stand 1.8 to 2.4 meters (6 to 8 feet) above the water line, making the two species immediate centerpieces in ponds or wetlands.

Asian Lotus

The Asian lotus, Nelumbo nucifera, is the classic “sacred lotus” most people envision: full, layered blooms in soft pink, pure white, and sometimes pale yellow. Indigenous to much of Asia and northern Australia, this beautiful flower has been selectively bred by growers for centuries, resulting in hundreds of named varieties. These range from diminutive bowl lotuses to giant exhibition varieties with enormous blooms. Most modern hybrids used in ornamental ponds, rooftop water features, and hotel courtyards have N. Nucifera as at least one parent, thanks to its malleable flower colors and shapes.

Throughout much of East and South Asia, you may find this species adorning temple ponds, monastery courtyards, and public parks like Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This prolific lotus frequently represents purity and spiritual awakening, as it roots in the muck while raising pristine blooms high above the water. This symbolic role fuels robust demand from temples, cultural parks, and landscape companies that create gardens for meditation or contemplation.

From a commercial perspective, N. Nucifera serves as a culinary, medicinal, and textile plant. Its seeds, commonly known as lotus nuts, are prepared for snacks and desserts. Rhizomes are cut into slices as a vegetable, while young leaves wrap foods. In herbal medicine, various parts are dried or boiled for teas. This blend of ornamental, culinary, and wellness uses makes the lotus plant a flexible choice for B2B buyers catering to restaurants, health brands, and garden centers all at once.

American Lotus

The American lotus, or Nelumbo lutea, a native to eastern and central North America, is readily identifiable by its large, pale yellow flowers and near circular leaves. The blooms are generally less ornate and frilled than many Asian lotus varieties, yet they are wide, vivid, and far-reaching. This makes them ideal for large lakeshores or marsh environments. The beautiful flower is well-suited for settings like the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, where it can thrive among water lilies and other aquatic plants.

This species prefers shallow lakes, backwaters of rivers, and slow wetlands, frequently in turbid or muddy conditions, where other ornamentals falter. It extends its roots deep into the mud and then immediately shoots long stems upward until they hit light, utilizing the identical core growth type as N. Nucifera. Because it is adapted to flood, silt, and changing water levels, it is a solid option for restoration projects requiring sturdy plants, not fragile showy types like tropical water lilies.

Ecologically, dense stands of N. Lutea provide both structure and shelter. Its leaves provide shade to the water, which can regulate temperature and provide shelter for fish fry and invertebrates. Its flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. Seed heads nourish birds and certain small mammals. Land managers who seek to reestablish native habitat in degraded ponds, stormwater basins, or old agricultural wetlands frequently plant American lotus for this reason.

For naturalistic water gardens, parks, and eco-resorts seeking a “wild” aesthetic, N. Lutea provides a native, hardy foundation plant. It can underpin large-scale plantings where more showy Asian lotus cultivars are then interspersed as highlights, providing designers with both ecological benefit and aesthetic pop in one layout.

Exploring Different Types of Lotus

With nearly 1,000 different cultivars of the lotus flower, categorizing them by size, color, flower shape, and hybrid lineage is essential for selecting the best lotus plant for a garden, event decor, or product collection. Flowers can measure around 30 cm across, while leaves may reach up to 80 cm. In some cultivars, the stems can rise between 1.8 to 2.4 m above the water, significantly impacting both visual effect and logistics.

1. By Size

Growers frequently classify lotus into micro, bowl, medium, and large categories. Micro and bowl varieties remain miniature, with their petite leaves and flowers hugging the water in shallow tubs or small containers. Medium varieties suit most backyard ponds, whereas large cultivars can create towering stands of leaves and enormous flowers that take over a pool.

Micro and bowl lotus thrive on balconies, patios, and petite urban ponds. They transport more readily, occupy lighter vessels, and appeal to buyers looking for a minimal aquatic aesthetic.

The large types, like Empress Lotus or Giant Sunburst, display best in wide ponds or estate-style water gardens where their lofty lotus leaves and giant 30 cm flowers do not feel cramped.

Size plays a role in transport, retail display, and landscape planning. Tall plants and 80 cm leaves require larger, deeper tubs, stronger pots, and more space.

2. By Color

Lotus colors include white, pink, yellow, and red. A few cultivars boast uncommon hues, such as the deep purple petals found on varieties like the Midnight Lotus or unexpected ‘rainbow’ mixtures and striking bi-colors with defined edges or flares.

Color selections define tonality. White and light pink often back tranquil, contemplative spaces, while vibrant reds and intense roses can fit celebrations, weddings, or brand colors that require punch. In other cultures, like Egypt, lotus ties to concepts of rebirth and spiritual wisdom, which may direct color choices for healing or spiritual spaces.

A straightforward color chart, organized by tone and intensity, allows clients to pair blooms with event palettes, spa branding, or seasonal displays.

3. By Flower Form

Lotus flowers can be single with few petals and an open center, semi‑double, or double with many dense petals. Other specialty varieties like twin blossom lotus, which has two flowers from one stem, or crispa types with curled petal edges, pop in collections and photo‑laden marketing.

Singles provide a clean, timeless silhouette perfect for minimalist ponds, temple gardens, or serene courtyards. Doubles and semi-doubles seem more substantial and can appear very opulent in wedding ponds, hotel entrances, or flower stages.

Matching form to use helps. Simple single flowers often suit serene or meditative spaces, while complex doubles tend to draw attention in event ponds or show gardens.

4. By Intended Use

Lotus types, such as the lotus flower and the manchurian lotus, are generally categorized into ornamental, rhizome, seed, or tea varieties. Ornamental lotus emphasize spectacular flowers and a neat habit, making them ideal for parks like Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Rhizome lotus are selected for voluminous, crunchy root crops, while seed lotus produce big, densely filled pods for fresh or dried seeds, with certain varieties prized for their petals in flower teas.

For commercial cut flowers or décor ponds, high-bloom ornamental lines with consistent flowering are particularly useful. Fragrant lotus varieties are excellent choices for sensory gardens, spas, or wellness retreats, enhancing the atmosphere with their lovely blooms. Food-centric businesses might prefer rhizome lotus for markets and restaurants, while seed lotus can be used for snacking and dessert purposes.

Online shops and catalogs that list each cultivar’s best uses assist B2B buyers in making quick decisions, helping them dodge mismatches. The diversity in lotus types ensures that gardeners can find the perfect fit for their specific needs, whether they are cultivating hardy water lilies or exploring the beauty of tropical water lilies.

5. By Hybrid Origin

The pure species – Nelumbo nucifera in Asia and Nelumbo lutea (American lotus) in the Americas – provide the foundational characteristics for numerous contemporary hybrids, including the beautiful flower known as the Manchurian lotus. These species types carry their own cachet, from temple ponds to wild wetlands, showcasing the vibrant flower colors that attract visitors. Hybrids cross these lines to achieve stronger colors, bigger blossoms, and longer blooming periods, which are essential for the prolific lotus growth that enhances any garden.

Some hybrids bloom more liberally, which is crucial when the brief natural bloom period lasts only several days for pollination before the pod forms and ejects hundreds of seeds. This truncates display time, making the peak bloom even more significant. Having both species and hybrids allows nurseries and designers to cater to conventional markets, as well as contemporary preferences, ensuring that collectors can find rare hybrids like the Florida Sunset Lotus or Imperial Red Lotus for their high-end resort ponds.

With the variety of lily flower shapes and colors, the lotus plant continues to captivate gardeners and enthusiasts alike. From the fragrant lotus to the striking pink blooms, these aquatic beauties thrive in diverse conditions, including murky water, while showcasing their superhydrophobic surfaces. The integration of both true lotus and hybrids offers a floral spectacular that enriches the aesthetic of any landscape, making them a favorite in aquatic gardens like Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Beyond the Bloom

Beyond the bloom, the lotus flower signifies looking beyond the fleeting pinnacle of the blossom and recognizing the worth of every other part of the plant, including the beautiful flower and lotus leaves. In botany, this “post-bloom” phase encompasses seed and pod development, rhizome expansion, and leaf regeneration, much like the mature lotus plant thriving in its environment.

The Rhizome

The rhizome, known as the lotus root, is a starchy, edible stem that grows in the muck beneath the water, making it a vital part of the lotus plant ecosystem. Packed with fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and complex carbs, it fits nicely into both regular meals and healthy goods. In numerous Asian cuisines, sliced lotus root is used in stir-fries, soups, pickles, and herbal stews. In certain schools of herbal medicine, it is either boiled or dried to ‘cool’ the body and aid digestion and lung health, showcasing the versatility of this beautiful flower.

Growers targeting food markets typically harvest rhizome varieties developed for long, straight, tender segments that are simple to wash, peel, and slice. These lines typically have fewer holes, smooth skin, and mellow taste, reducing waste and simplifying grading. For farms and aqua farms, rhizome propagation of the manchurian lotus is a handy option. Planting cut sections of healthy rhizome in ponds or flooded beds produces more consistent crops than seeds, with consistent plant height, yield, and harvest times.

For value-added products, fresh sliced lotus root in chill packs, vacuum packed peeled slices, and lotus root chips can all attract time-strapped home cooks and health conscious consumers. Lotus root tea from thinly sliced or powdered dried rhizome slots into caffeine-free lines and can pair well with ginger or jujube in blends.

The Seed

Once the petals of the lotus flower drop, the seeds begin to develop, making them an experience literally ‘beyond the bloom’ in their life cycle. Nestled within the cone-shaped pod, these dense, round kernels are known for their remarkable longevity, remaining viable for decades under the right conditions. This enduring quality has made them symbols of resilience across many cultures. Packed with protein, complex carbs, and essential minerals, lotus seeds are featured in various snacks, sweets, porridges, and teas throughout Asia, from candied seeds and mooncake fillings to roasted seed mixes. Fresh seeds, with their gentle and mild flavor, complement even the frostiest desserts and mock-milk concoctions, while dried or preserved varieties find their place in health-conscious snack aisles and gourmet gift boxes.

In some regions, the manchurian lotus seed pods are enjoyed as a seasonal treat, and the dried pods are utilized in decorative arts. To ensure reliable quality, growers must follow well-defined processes for harvesting at the correct maturity level, quickly cleaning to remove any bitter green embryos, and storing in low-moisture environments that are cool and dark to preserve the seeds’ flavor and color.

The Leaf

Lotus leaves, which can extend more than 40 to 60 centimeters across, are big round plates featuring a naturally waxy surface that sheds water. This hydrophobic property, often referred to as the “lotus effect,” allows drops to bead up and roll off, effectively carrying dust with them. This fascinating characteristic has inspired innovations in self-cleaning products, including paints, fabrics, and coatings. In culinary applications, entire leaves are used to bundle rice, fish, or mixed grains prior to steaming, imparting a subtle herbal aroma while serving as a compostable vessel. The mature lotus plant, particularly the beautiful flower varieties like the pink lotus, adds an aesthetic appeal to any dish.

Dried and cut leaves can support herbal tea blends, particularly those with caffeine-free associations to relaxation or old-style wellness habits. In craft and floral design, pressed or dried leaves impart bold shape and vein pattern to wall art, lanterns, and large arrangements. Their appearance and form lends itself to sustainable packaging ideas, from plate-style food wraps at festivals to ornamented gift box liners.

For brands, lotus leaves represent a crossover between culinary, wellness, and design lines. They embody the “beyond the bloom” concept, demonstrating how post-flower elements, including the lotus flower petals, pods, and seeds, continue to serve practical purposes and thrive in the market.

The Lotus in Its Environment

Lotus species, such as the manchurian lotus and various water lilies, vary in shade, dimension, and function. All require specific water and weather conditions. Their engagement with the environment determines if they remain decorative pieces or true movers and shakers of pond vitality and local ecology.

Water Quality

The lotus flower blooms in stagnant or slow-moving water, ranging from garden tubs to deep ponds, and thrives in pristine, nutrient-rich water with a touch of natural mud. The roots and thick rhizomes of the lotus plant anchor in the soft silty soil, while its leaves float or stand above the surface. Adult leaves can reach up to 60 cm in circumference and unfold into broad, flat discs that shade the water. Petioles may extend up to 200 cm long, allowing certain varieties to tolerate deep water, while adlittoral cultivars flourish in slim margins as shallow as 10 to 20 cm.

Water sustaining heavy flowering generally ranges from mild to warm, maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the growing period. A mildly acidic to neutral pH tends to be the best, so it’s important to test for pH and some basic chemistry issues in lined ponds or concrete basins. In very shallow features, rapid changes in temperature or pH can stress the plant and abbreviate the bloom period, impacting the beautiful flower’s growth.

Elevated pollutants, like nitrogen and phosphorus-laden agricultural runoff, may induce algae blooms that smother lotus leaves and block light. Still water can become anoxic at the bottom, which damages rhizomes and can spoil bloom cycles. Gentle water scurrying or a low-flow recirculation system can prevent this without converting the pond into quickstream the plant can’t manage.

Once settled, the lotus becomes a gentle filter. Its thick root zone filters water, allowing particles to drop. The expansive leaf canopy shades the surface, which can limit algae growth and promote clarity. In small ornamental ponds or hotel courtyards, combining the lotus flower with rudimentary mechanical filtration frequently results in clean water with reduced chemical processing.

Ecosystem Role

In ponds, lakes, flooded fields, and cultivated lotus–rice rotations, the lotus flower acts like a keystone aquatic plant that structures habitat for numerous other species. The big leaves create a floating roof that cools the water and rocks while breaking blistering sun, offering little fish and tadpoles protection from predators. Thick petioles and rhizomes provide vertical structure for snails, insects, and crustaceans to hide and feed in, supporting wading birds and other wildlife hunting in shallows.

The plant’s rhizomes can extend as far as 20 meters in a single year, constructing a dense, interwoven foundation that grabs loose substrate. This stabilizes the pond bed and slows erosion around the edges, which is particularly handy in farm reservoirs or urban lakes with unstable or fluctuating water levels. While the lotus plant is not a heavy oxygenator like some submerged plants, the leaf canopy and root system can indirectly facilitate a better oxygen balance by cooling the water and reducing algae swings.

Flowers, including the beautiful water lilies, are active players in local pollinator webs. Lotus is profusely pollinated throughout the day by bees, wasps, beetles, and flies that flit from flower to flower and surrounding foliage. In parks or at public water gardens, this constant bug flow can help sustain urban pollinator corridors, especially where other nectar sources are in short supply during mid-summer.

In landscape and restoration work, lotus can assist in making plain basins into miniature wetlands of true biodiversity worth. The shallow adlittoral types suit retention ponds at business parks, while the taller types fit larger lakes or rural reservoirs. In cooler climes, lotus tubers can overwinter under 0 °C as long as they remain buried in wet soil under water, but they lose cold resistance if excavated and stored dry. Therefore, any long-term venture must match species and husbandry to local winters.

Cultivating Your Choice

To choose and cultivate the appropriate lotus flower variety, such as the beautiful blue lotus or the fragrant pink lotus, is to work with your locale—your climate, water space, and market aspirations, rather than against them. The following steps are relevant if you cultivate in a pond, dam, lake, or large vat for retail or business-to-business distribution.

1. Check your climate and light: Lotus is a hardy perennial in temperate to tropical regions and needs a sunny spot with at least four hours of direct light daily.

2. Choose the right variety: pick cold-hardy types for short summers, dwarf or bowl lotus for patios and small water gardens, and large cultivars for dams, lakes, and commercial ponds.

3. Prepare soil and containers: Use rich loamy soil with high organic content in wide pots that are at least 30 cm across and ideally 40 to 60 cm or in lined beds at the edge of a water body.

4. Set depth and water level: Plant rhizomes so soil sits 2 to 4 centimeters below the water surface at first. Then deepen to about 30 to 50 centimeters for mature plants, keeping calm water and away from strong flow.

5. Fertilize and maintain: use slow-release aquatic fertilizer. A modest calendar is semi-annual, frequently mid-January and then mid-February in hot locales, and prune away old leaves and spent flowers.

6. Plan propagation: use rhizome division for stable colors and shapes and use seeds or tissue culture for new lines or large-scale production.

7. Support buyers: offer clear guides or starter kits with containers, soil, fertilizer, and variety notes so B2B clients can hit target bloom windows with fewer losses.

Climate Considerations

Lotus plants require ample sunlight to produce heavy flower sets and thrive across various climates, from warm temperate zones to fully tropical regions. In cooler areas, cold-hardy varieties and sheltered ponds enable the plants to hibernate during winter. Conversely, in warmer climates, long seasons support repeated flushes that can benefit tourism-based markets, particularly those featuring beautiful flower displays like the pink lotus and blue lotus varieties.

Strong wind desiccates leaves and breaks stalks, so bigger ponds are ideally located where buildings, trees or banks provide some shelter but not shade. Planting and bloom cycles should match local heat patterns and demand. For example, schedule divisions and fertilization so peak flowering lines up with holidays, wedding seasons, or regional festivals.

Soil and Depth

Lotus roots thrive in heavy, rich, loamy soil, making them ideal for gardeners looking to cultivate beautiful flowers. Thin, sandy beds tend to dry out and shift, while pure clay can become airless, hindering growth. By stirring composted organics into the loam, you can achieve superior color and continuous flowering throughout the season, enhancing the overall beauty of your garden with vibrant lotus flower colors.

For containers, select a pot or bowl that is at least 30 cm wide, with 40 to 60 cm providing more room for rhizomes and more stable water. Plant the rhizome in well-drained soil, cover with 2 cm of coarse sand or pea gravel, and then water gently so the soil doesn’t float.

As the lotus plant matures, aim for a depth in the 30 to 50 cm range. Micro or bowl lotus varieties remain shallower, while large ornamental or farmed varieties can be placed deeper near the margins of a dam or lake, where water is calmer and easier to manage. This careful attention to planting conditions will lead to a flourishing garden filled with lovely blooms.

Propagation Methods

• Rhizome division: Split mature rhizomes with at least one growing tip and a few roots, then replant in fresh soil at the correct depth. This maintains cultivar characteristics consistently, so color, petal form, and height remain uniform throughout a commercial block or display pond.

• Seed propagation: Use for breeding or widening your range since seeds can give new combinations but may not match the parent. Lotus seeds can bide their time for decades before they find the proper warmth and water to sprout, so germinating them in controlled conditions in warm, shallow trays assists.

• Tissue culture: Lab-based micro-propagation gives clean, uniform stock at scale for nurseries and growers who supply many clients. It needs more setup and specialist skills.

Rhizome division is essential for providing reliable stock needed for B2B orders, particularly for the cultivation of beautiful flower varieties like the lotus flower and water lilies. Many growers enhance their offerings by sending out starter packs or pre-split rhizomes, complete with instructions on depth, climate compatibility, and optimal bloom windows.

The Future of Lotus Diversity

The future of lotus diversity will probably emerge from a combination of genetics, intelligent breeding, and emerging global market demand.

The work on new cultivars is already robust and will continue. Since the sacred lotus genome was sequenced in 2013, breeders are able to map traits such as color, petal number, cold tolerance and disease resistance with greater accuracy. This accelerates the hunt for rare colors, petite varieties for tiny ponds, and resilient strains that weather low-water quality. The existing division into rhizome lotus, seed lotus, and flower lotus provides a solid roadmap for this work, as breeders can cross or select within each category with a specific aim — thicker rhizomes for cuisine, bigger seeds for snacking, or long-stemmed flowers for bouquets. The promising design that lotus suits water depths of about 10 to 20 centimeters allows space to try new lines in many types of pond, wetland and urban water garden without tight site restrictions.

Which types survive will be shaped by investment in breeding programs. Public and private funding could support trials for exceptional varieties that bridge aesthetics and productivity, such as rhizome lotus with intense flavor and disease resistance or seed lotus with enhanced shelling and drying characteristics. There is increasing interest in lotus effect superhydrophobic coatings based on lotus leaves, which might link plant breeding with materials engineering by breeding leaves with particular surface patterns. Storage and handling will matter as well: rhizomes can be stacked and kept for up to three weeks, which helps move planting stock across regions without losing lines during transport. This needs planning so small or rare types are not pushed out by a few commercial giants.

Demand is increasing in decorative, culinary, and health markets. Flower lotus fuels demand for pond plants, cut stems, and festival arrangements in several countries. Rhizome lotus sustains fresh and processed foods, and seed lotus energizes snacks, flours, and beverages. With essential amino acids constituting approximately 36.34% of the total in lotus seeds, seed lotus nicely fits into nutrition and food security schemes, particularly where plant proteins are center stage. With such long-term seed viability, as demonstrated in the germination of a 1,300-year-old seed, seed banks can maintain an extensive archive of wild and heritage varieties, which can subsequently be reintroduced into breeding if contemporary lines become too limited. Meanwhile, mega-hubs such as Hubei province in central China, which churn out some 2 million tons, can serve as both production centers and living libraries if fields maintain a blend of heirloom and modern varieties.

For companies, the secret is to connect innovation with diversity. Businesses cultivating, processing, or marketing lotus can differentiate themselves with named cultivars, traceable sourcing, and clear value roles for each type, such as rhizome, seed, and flower, supported by nutrition, water depth, and climate-fit data. Thoughtful regulations around machine harvesting will matter as well, as machines tend to advantage uniform, tall, or thick-stemmed types and silently eliminate minor lines. Companies that establish contracts and arrange planting patterns to safeguard tiny pockets of rare strains demonstrate they consider more than immediate harvest. Brands that experiment with new lotus wellness products, food, or bio-based coatings can lead the way in lotus innovation while maintaining mixed plantings, seed banks, and farmer collaborations to maintain genetic diversity.

Conclusion

Lotus exhibits vastness and attractiveness. Two primary species ground the bunch, and each variety brings its own hue, leaf shape, and growth habit. Others grace grand lakes. Others sit in little tubs on a balcony. Every style changes the vibe of a room.

True transformation begins with definition decision. Size, light, heat, and water all form what will grow well. Dwarf bowl lotus in a city flat. Tall sacred lotus in a farm pond. Both can flourish with consistent attention.

To go further, choose a variety that suits your area and climate, install a basic water tub or pond and begin modestly. Educate yourself by observing one lotus develop daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main types of lotus plants?

The primary lotus varieties include the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and the American lotus (Nelumbo lutea). The sacred lotus, a beautiful flower abundant in Asia, showcases a variety of colors and shapes, while the American lotus, typically exhibiting a yellow flower color, is native to North America.

How can I tell sacred lotus from American lotus?

Sacred lotus flowers, often pink or white, exhibit a variety of petal shapes, while the American lotus showcases pale yellow flowers with rounder petals. Leaf shape and seedpod form help specialists distinguish these beautiful flower varieties.

Are all lotus varieties safe to grow in garden ponds?

Most lotus types, including the beautiful flower varieties like the pink lotus and hardy water lilies, are pond or container safe lined. Some vigorous types, such as the Manchurian lotus, can spread rapidly in natural lakes and rivers.

What conditions do lotus plants need to grow well?

Lotus require full sun, warm temperatures, and still or slow-moving water. They thrive in shallow water, normally 20 to 50 centimeters deep, with rich, loamy soil. They do not appreciate cold water, raging torrents, or deep shade.

Can I grow lotus in containers on a balcony or patio?

Dwarf and medium lotus types, such as the beautiful flower varieties like the pink lotus and blue lotus, do well in large pots. Plant in a wide, shallow pot without drainage holes, heavy soil, and 10 to 20 centimeters of water above the soil. Set the pot in a spot that receives 6 or more hours of sunlight.

How do lotus plants benefit their environment?

Lotus plants, including the beautiful pink lotus and the hardy water lilies, offer refuge to fish and aquatic creatures. Their large leaves shade the water, helping control algae growth while attracting pollinators and anchoring pond sediments.

Are there any new or rare lotus varieties to watch for?

Breeders come up with new colors and petal shapes, including the beautiful flower forms of the lotus flower and its varieties, every year. Miniature and multi-petal hybrids, like the manchurian lotus, are very popular in small spaces. Consult reliable nurseries or botanic gardens for the most current registered cultivars and regional suggestions.