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) — AntanO · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

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

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.