In China, lotus are classified based on four characteristics:
1) plant height: While the maximum size of a mature lotus plant is determined by genetics there can be a vast size difference in plants of the same variety that can be attributed to available growing area. In general, lotus with plenty of space to grow will be larger than plants of the identical variety grown in smaller spaces. Researchers at Auburn University, directed by Dr. Ken Tilt, PhD, are working in conjunction with Chinese horticulurists and the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society to develop a uniform system of identification for known ornamental cultivars based on plant size, flower color and flower form. Suggested New Identification System Miniature - less than 16 cm (6") Dr. Diake Tian, PhD, describes the category of thousand-petal as a special case of double flower form. It is a particularly useful term in horticulture because this concept presents a good image of the flower when the number of petals ranges from several hundred to one thousand or even more. It is a concept with strong background in Chinese culture. It means the flower has many petals, many more than the normal double flower lotus. Here a thousand is not exactly equal to 1000! There are five flower shapes that describe the mature flower in both systems. Plate - petals open horizontally to form flat plate-like shape
for a research project conducted by the university to study the possibilities of forcing lotus in greenhouses for the commercial market.
exquisites - smallest of bowl lotus
bowl - less than 13”
dwarf - 1'-2’
medium - 2'-4’
large - over 4'
2) flower diameter
3) flower type:
single or few - less than 25 petals
semi-double - 25-50 petals
double or multi-petal - more than 50 petals
4) flower color:
red
pink
white
yellow
versicolor - more than one color on the same flower
changeable - color changes as flower matures
The considerable variation in flower color and shape, while making the lotus one of the most popular ornamental and cultivated plants in Asia, has also made it hdifficult to develop a standard system of identification. Classification is further complicated because the final size of a lotus is determined by many factors, including the amount of sunlight, the size of the container or growing area, and the amount of fertilization available.
For plant size, a simple system using the classifications of miniature, small, medium, and large has been suggested.
Small - 18-46 cm (7"-18")
Medium - 47-91 cm (19"-36")
Large - more than 92 cm (over 36")
The categories suggested for flower type are more descriptive than the Chinese categories.
Single - less than 25 petals
Double - 25-50 petals
Multi-petal - more than 50 petals
Thousand-petal - many petals
Bowl - petals open wide around receptacle before curving up like a bowl
Cup - petals curve up like a cup
Ball - petals overlap to form a ball
Flying/dancing - petals are held in an irregular array around receptacle
You will find the lotus in our Shopping Cart classified using elements from both systems.
Dr. Ken Tilt, PhD, from Auburn works with Bill to monitor growth of lotus
Ten Mile Creek Nursery specializes in presenting a fresh new selection of lotus intended for growing in containers to be used in ornamental ponds or on your patio. For those with even more limited space, we recommend an exquisite of bowl lotus. These are bred by the Chinese to be grown in the smallest containers, less than 11” in diameter, although they will grow in larger containers as well.
