TankBud

Dwarf aquarium lily

Nymphaea nouchali

Also known as Nymphaea stellata, Star lotus, Blue star water lily, Dwarf lily, Nil manel

FreshwaterBulb / tuberbulbPlantlets

Dwarf aquarium lily (Nymphaea nouchali)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
9.8 in
25 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Midground
Type
Bulb / tuber
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
3–15 dGH
Spread
7.9 in (20 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root feeder
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Nymphaeaceae
Origin
Native to ponds, lakes, and slow waters across tropical Asia, from India and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia.

Overview

Bury only a quarter of the bulb so it does not rot, and give it medium to high light for compact, colorful submerged leaves. It benefits from CO2 and root tabs, and pinching off the floating pads keeps it low and bushy. Use it as a midground centerpiece and let a pad or two reach the surface only if you want flowers.

In the wild

This dwarf lily grows from a small bulb, sending up arrow-shaped leaves that flush red, green, and bronze. Left alone it pushes floating pads and star-shaped blue to purple flowers to the surface, but trimming keeps it as a compact submerged plant. It grows in warm ponds and lakes across tropical Asia.

Good to know

Nymphaea nouchali is a water lily in the family Nymphaeaceae, and the name Nymphaea stellata is treated as a synonym. It is the national flower of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where the blue form is highly regarded. The star-shaped flowers give rise to its common name star lotus.

Did you know

The blue form is the national flower of both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where it is known as the manel or nil-manel.

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