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 Americanhowever there are many varieties within the Asian species. Many people revere them as they often symbolize purity, water lily and lotus difference, resilience, and rebirth.

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

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. In addition to cold hardiness, tropical water lilies differ from hardy water lilies in the following ways:. Plant water lilies in plastic containers or baskets specifically designed for aquatic plants. Line baskets with burlap or landscape fabric so that the soil does not fall through the cracks. Several sheets of newspaper can be placed on the bottom of the containers for the same purpose. Always use topsoil that is free from herbicides and pesticides. The containers should be large enough to allow the rhizome to spread. Since rhizomes creep across the surface of the soil, a wider pot is preferred to a deep one. Planting instructions vary for hardy water lilies and tropical ones. Tropical water lilies should be planted just like perennials.

It has adapted to live in a wider range of habitats from hardiness zones 4 to 11, whereas the lotus is suited only to aquatic habitats found no further north than zone 5, water lily and lotus difference. Unlike their hardy counterparts, they cannot survive the harsh winter weather and must remain in the hot houses at the Gardens from October through late May or early June.

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The main difference between water lily and lotus is that water lily belongs to the family Nymphaeaceae, whereas lotus belongs to the family Nelumbonaceae. Although the leaves of the tropical water lily float on the water surface, its flowers rise above the surface of the water about inches. Water lily and lotus are two types of aquatic flowering plants important in horticulture. Generally, they add a delicate but robust beauty and variety to backyard ponds. Water Lily — Definition, Characteristics, Importance 2. Lotus — Definition, Characteristics, Importance 3. The water lily is a type of aquatic flowering plant of the family Nymphaeaceae , containing five genera and around 70 species. The main distinguishing feature of water lily is the floating of leaves and flowers on the water surface. The two main types of water lily are the hardy water lily and tropical water lily.

Water lily and lotus difference

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. The biggest difference is that water lilies' pads and flowers remain close to the surface of the water, growing no higher than eight inches, while water lotuses grow up and out of the water, sometimes as high as four to six feet in a real pond.

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Always use topsoil that is free from herbicides and pesticides. Care of Water Lilies: Plant water lilies in plastic containers or baskets specifically designed for aquatic plants. Cut them down to a few inches above the rhizome. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Line baskets with burlap or landscape fabric so that the soil does not fall through the cracks. The 7 Best Indoor Garden Systems of 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: Water lily flowers and leaves are thick and waxy while the lotus' are thin and papery. Tropical water lilies have longer stalks that hold the flower higher above the surface of the water. In addition to cold hardiness, tropical water lilies differ from hardy water lilies in the following ways: They can have larger flowers. 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:. Useful Websites. Symbolic in both the ancient and modern world, they are celebrated for their beauty and immortalized in art and religion. It might be easy at first to get these two aquatic flowers mixed up, but they have definite distinctions. The water lilies at the Gardens typically bloom from about mid-April through mid-September.

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!

Store it in an aquarium tank making sure that the temperature doesn't get above degrees; this control will ensure that the water lily is not actively growing. Ask a Plant Expert Contact Us with your plant questions by email plantinfo nybg. Follow the stem down as far as it goes and either cut it or snap it with your fingers. They possess a waxy coating that prevents the plant from getting wet or dirty. Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer specializing in wildlife conservation, technology, and food. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Tips and Troubleshooting Make sure that your water lily or lotus gets enough sunlight, ideally six hours or more. Hardy water lilies have rounded petals with lily pads that resemble Pac Man. Lotuses, like water lilies, prefer six or more hours of sunlight. Fertilize plants once a month. Be patient with them in the spring as they are late to emerge.