Mixed Lotus Seeds – Assorted Colors for Ponds, Water Gardens, and Aquascapes

Growing a lotus from seed takes about a week to sprout and a season to flower, and the seed itself is the cheapest way into a plant that otherwise ships as an expensive tuber. This is a mixed lot — pink, white, yellow and multi-colored varieties — so you find out what you have when it blooms.

What You'll Receive

• Scientific Name: Nelumbo nucifera
• Common Name: Lotus
• Product Type: Mixed Lotus Seeds (Hardy and Tropical Varieties)
• Light Requirement: Full Sun
• Planting Medium: Heavy clay soil or aquatic planting media
• Germination Time: 1–7 days after soaking
• Ideal Use: Outdoor ponds, decorative water gardens, patio water containers

How to Grow Lotus Seeds

• 1. Scarify the seed. Lotus seeds are oval with one pointed end and one rounded end. Do not file the pointed (embryo) end. Instead, gently file the rounded end until you see the white inner layer. This helps water enter the seed and encourages germination.
• 2. Soak the seed. Place the scarified seed in a container of warm, clean water (around 75–85°F or 24–29°C). Change the water daily to keep it fresh.
• 3. Sprouting. Within 1–7 days, the seed will swell and a sprout will emerge. Allow the sprout to grow 4–6 inches before planting.
• 4. Transfer to soil. Plant the sprouted seed into a pot filled with heavy clay soil or aquatic planting media. Submerge the pot under 2–4 inches of water.
• 5. Growing in water. Place the potted seedling in a sunny, warm location. As it matures, the lotus will send leaves above the water's surface and eventually produce stunning blooms.

Grower's Notes

• Filing the wrong end kills the seed. The pointed end holds the embryo. File the rounded end only, and only until the white layer shows — going deeper damages what you are trying to germinate. This one step accounts for most failed lotus seeds.
• Change the soaking water daily. Stale water fouls and the seed rots before it sprouts. Fresh warm water every day for the first week is the difference between a 1-7 day germination and nothing.
• Do not plant the sprout too early. Wait until the shoot is four to six inches long. Planted shorter, it struggles to reach light through the water and stalls.
• Lotus needs more sun than a water lily. Full sun all day is the target. In partial sun you will get leaves and no flowers, and lotus leaves are large enough to be worth growing on their own — but flowering needs the light.
• Expect flowers in the second season. A seed-grown lotus spends its first year building a rhizome. That is normal and not a sign anything is wrong.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Guide on How to Grow Lotus Flowers from Seeds.

Notes

• While our lotus seeds (Nelumbo nucifera) are selected for very high sprouting rates, we do not guarantee the flower color or that every seed will successfully grow. Flower coloration may vary naturally. Proper care, growing conditions, and patience are essential for best results.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
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• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.