Lotus

( LOH - tuss )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials is for the most part a group of trailing prostrate plants that have eye-catching red to yellow flowers. They need full sun to partial shade and regular water to perform well in the garden. Plants in this group are known as Lotus, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Bacon-and-Eggs, or Deervetch, and are native to the eastern hemisphere. Use these plants in mixed beds and borders, in containers or hanging baskets, as small-scale groundcovers, or as members of rock or Mediterranean gardens. Take care when planting Lotus in the landscape, as plants can produce compounds that are toxic to livestock.

Lotus Species and Varietals

The Lotus genus is a member of the plant family Fabaceae and includes between 70 and 150 distinct species. The commonly known water-dwelling plant known as Lotus is not actually a part of this genus, nor is it related. Ideal growing zones for Lotus plants varies, depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Lotus berthelotii (Parrot's Beak, Lotus Vine Flower, Coral Gem, Cat Claw, Pelican Beak, Fire Vine)
This species forms a woody-based plant native to the Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands that grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10-12 or Sunset growing zones 9, 15-24 and H1. It reaches 8-12 inches tall and spreads 2-3 feet when mature. Stems are covered with feathery, silver-grey leaves. Blossoms are scarlet and bloom in summer. Great as a cascading plants over walls and rocks.

Lotus corniculatus (Common Bird's-Foot Trefoil, Eggs and Bacon, Birdsfoot Deervetch, Golden Bird's-Foot)
This species is an herbaceous perennial that has green foliage and is similar in appearance to peavine (Lathyrus). Individual plants reach up to between 2 and 8 inches tall and 2.5 feet wide. Flowers are yellow. It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9, and is considered an invasive species in the Midwest, Northeast, and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States, and Australia.

Lotus dorycnium (Dorycnium pentaphyllum) (Prostrate Canary Clover, Badassi, Hairy Canary Clover, Bird's Foot Deervetch)
These plants reach between 4 and 28 inches tall and have woody stems and branches. Leaves are green and hairy on both sides, and flowers are small and white, flowering from May through July. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. It is considered invasive in California (United States) and Australia.

Lotus glaucus (Trevina)
This perennial species is native to Madeira and the Salvage Islands and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11. Flowers are typically orange and age to yellow, and foliage is green, sometimes with hairs, which can give the plant a silvery sheen. Individual plants in this species can reach up to a few inches tall and a few feet wide.

Lotus hirsutus (Dorycnium hirsutum) (Canary Clover, Hairy Canary Clover)
These plants are native to the Mediterranean, where it grows in grasslands. The flowers are white with pinkish-red veining and foliage is silvery green and fuzzy. Bloom time for this species is between May and July. Hardy to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants reach up to 12 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide at maturity.

Lotus maculatus (Lotus Vine, Parrot's Beak, Fire Vine)
This species grows best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 9 and 15-24 and is native to the Canary Islands, where it is considered critically endangered. Grows to reach 8-12 inches tall and 2-3 feet wide at maturity. Cultivars are listed and described below:

'Amazon Sunset'
With orange-marked yellow flowers, best in areas where nights stay warm.

'Gold Flash'
This variety has bright yellow flowers with reddish-orange markings.

'New Gold Flash'
Yellow flowers with orange markings, better where nights stay warm.

'Red Flash'
Trailing plant with inch long deep red and orange blooms.

Lotus maritimus (Dragon's Teeth)
This species is native to Europe, Africa, and temperate areas of Asia. It produces pea-form yellow flowers and has green foliage and stems. Plants reach between 4 and 10 inches tall. Stems are prostrate, and the plant is considered a low-grower. Dragon's Teeth grows well in USDA hardiness zones 5-8.

Lotus pedunculatus (Lotus ulignosus) (Big Trefoil, Greater Bird's-Foot-Trefoil, Marsh Bird's-Foot Trefoil)
These herbaceous perennials are native to Europe's damp, open landscapes. They produce flower heads of between 5 and 12 yellow blossoms. Stems are hollow. Individual plants reach up to 8-32 inches tall and over 3 feet wide at maturity. This species is considered highly invasive in wetlands, irrigated lawns, and damp areas across the western United States (including California and Alaska), Australia, and New Zealand.

Lotus tenuis (Narrowleaf Trefoil, Narrow-Leaved Bird's-Foot-Trefoil, Slender Trefoil, Creeping Trefoil, Prostrate Trefoil)
These plants creep along the ground, colonizing areas with marginal conditions like salt and low nutrient soils. It has become naturalized in many areas of the world due to its adaptability and is native to western and southern Europe and southwest Asia. Individual plants reach up to 4 to 20 inches tall at maturity and have a spreading habit. This species is considered highly invasive in the northeast and midwestern regions of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Caring for Lotus

The best place in the garden for these flowering plants is in a spot that receives full sun to partial shade. In the warmest climates, these plants do appreciate some afternoon shade. They prefer soil that is well-draining, light, and that has a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5 (around neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost and sand before installing flowers. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly to help them establish a strong root system.

Each year in springtime, apply a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the planting area to improve soil structure, drainage, and nutrient load. This feeding should be sufficient to provide these flowers with enough nutrients to get through their growth and flowering seasons with ease. Pruning is not necessary, but if any foliage is becoming unsightly, it can be removed at any time during the growing season. Spent flowers can be removed to neaten up the look of plants and encourage more blooms to pop. If propagating these plants via seed, the flowering stalks will need to remain and seed heads will eventually mature, providing seeds for the next generation of plants. Lotus plants are tender evergreen perennials that can last in the garden for 3 to 5 years or more before needing to be replaced. Outside of their growing zones, they are cultivated as annuals, pulled and composted at the end of the growing season and replaced in the next.

Propagation

Lotus, or Parrot's Beak, can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Parrot's Beak plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lotus by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new flower.

Propagating Lotus by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads are left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside, or they can be manually opened. Once seeds have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray on the soil surface and cover them with a light layer of soil. Water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7 to 21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Problems and Pests

Certain Lotus species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Lotus plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: