Birthday
HydrangeasThis article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. The sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) grows in warm waters of Asia and Australia. Its roots sit in mud, yet its flowers rise above the water spotless, which is why many cultures made the lotus a symbol of purity of soul, rebirth and spiritual awakening.
Lotus and water lily: not the same
The word "lotus" is used for different plants. The true lotus (family Nelumbonaceae) and water lilies (family Nymphaeaceae) only look alike. Read more about aquatic plants in our article on flowers that grow on water.
The lotus effect
Lotus petals and leaves really do stay clean. In the 1970s the German botanist Wilhelm Barthlott found out why: the leaf surface is covered with microscopic bumps and wax, so water does not spread but rolls off in beads, carrying dirt with it. This "lotus effect" is now used in self-cleaning paints, glass and fabrics.
The "lotus" of Ancient Egypt
The Egyptians revered the blue and white water lilies that the Greeks called lotuses. The blue water lily opens in the morning and closes at night, so it became a symbol of the sun, rebirth and creation: in one myth the sun god emerged from a flower rising out of the primeval waters. It was also the emblem of Upper Egypt. It appears on temple columns, jewellery and tomb paintings, and garlands containing blue water lily petals were found in Tutankhamun's tomb. Herodotus wrote that the Egyptians dried the "lotus" seeds to bake flatbread and ate its sweetish rhizomes.
The lotus in India and Buddhism
The lotus is India's national flower. In Hinduism the creator Brahma appears from a lotus growing out of Vishnu's navel, and Lakshmi, goddess of abundance, is shown seated on a lotus. In Buddhism the lotus represents the path from ignorance (the "mud") to enlightenment; legend says lotuses bloomed where the newborn Buddha took his first steps. The Buddha is often depicted on a lotus throne, and a meditation posture is called the lotus position.
Interesting facts
- Lotus seeds can stay viable for a very long time: scientists germinated a seed about 1,300 years old from a dry lakebed in China.
- A lotus flower can keep its inside at around 30–35 °C even when the air is cooler, which attracts insects.
- Lotus roots, seeds and young leaves are eaten in Asia; slices of root with their lace-like pattern of holes are a well-known ingredient in Chinese and Japanese cooking.
- In Buddhist symbolism the colour matters: white stands for purity, pink for the highest spirituality and blue for wisdom.
Can you grow a lotus in Ukraine?
Yes, in warm regions and in containers. A lotus needs full sun, warm water (above 20 °C in summer) and a container without holes of at least 40–50 litres filled with heavy, silty soil. Nick the seeds and soak them in warm water before sowing. Never let the rhizomes freeze: in winter move the container to a cellar at 5–10 °C. Lotus flowers in July and August.
FAQ
What does a lotus tattoo or gift mean?
Most often a wish for purity, spiritual growth and a new beginning.
Can I buy a lotus bouquet?
Cut lotuses are rarely sold and do not last long in a vase, but dried lotus seed heads are popular in floristry for interior arrangements.
For the symbolism of other flowers, see our guide to the language of flowers. And order a meaningful bouquet with flower delivery in Kyiv from UFL.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
