Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Red Russian Lotus

Description:

A stunning aquatic plant, perfect for medium or large ponds; large, intense reddish pink flowers with yellow centers are highly fragrant; attractive large round leaves ascend from the water; prefers full sun; quite easy to care for

Ornamental Features

Russian Red Lotus features showy fragrant hot pink cup-shaped flowers with yellow eyes and red edges at the ends of the stems from early summer to late fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive large round leaves remain green in colour throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Russian Red Lotus is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Russian Red Lotus is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Water Gardens
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Russian Red Lotus will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity extending to 4 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 6 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is an excellent choice for very wet locations or locations with some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Russian Red Lotus is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.