Dwarf Lily Stellata care guide
Dwarf Lily Stellata (Nymphaea stellata) — medium light, 22-28 °C, pH 6-7.5, no CO2.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Dwarf Lily Stellata (Nymphaea stellata) is an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as a beginner-level species. It is typically grown under medium light and without obligatory CO2 injection on nutrient-rich aquasoil. Smaller water lily with green-purple submerged leaves and pale-blue surface flowers. Good centerpiece option for medium tanks; tolerates a wide range of parameters.
Taxonomy
- Family: Nymphaeaceae
- Genus: Nymphaea
- Scientific name: Nymphaea stellata
- Common synonyms: Blue Lotus
Habitat
Nymphaea is a cosmopolitan genus of water lilies (Nymphaeaceae) inhabiting still and slow-moving fresh waters worldwide. Plants grow from a tuber producing submersed and floating leaves. In the Aquairi knowledge base, populations associated with this form are recorded from Asia.
Growth requirements
- Lighting: medium
- CO2: not required
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6-7.5
- GH: 3-14 °dGH
- Substrate: nutrient-rich aquasoil
- Maximum height: 40 cm
- Growth rate: medium
- Recommended placement: midground
Placement
Midground or background tuber plant; submersed leaves form a striking rosette, but if floating leaves are allowed to develop they shade the layout. In the Aquairi knowledge base this form is recommended for the midground under medium light and without obligatory CO2 injection, using nutrient-rich aquasoil.
Propagation
Reproduces vegetatively by side tubers and rhizome fragments; large tubers can be cut to encourage daughter shoots. Documented propagation techniques for this entry include: horizontal runners.
Common issues
Allowing floating leaves to mature triggers blooming and depletes the tuber; cutting floating leaves at the petiole keeps the plant submersed.
Propagating Star Lotus (Nymphaea stellata / nouchali)
Overview
Star Lotus is the aquarium name for Nymphaea nouchali (often sold as Nymphaea stellata), a day-blooming water lily with submerged roots and stems. It grows from pear-shaped, potato-sized rhizomes and produces leaves around 20-23 cm that can spread up to 1.5 metres from the rhizome, with star-shaped surface flowers in shades of white, blue, violet, purple or pink.
As a member of Nymphaea, it is a rhizomatous or tuberous perennial herb whose tuberous roots are contractile. Propagation therefore works through the underground storage organ, not through stem cuttings.
Propagation Method
Multiply Star Lotus by separating daughter tubers and bulbils that form around the parent rhizome, and by dividing a large rhizome into sections that each carry roots and a growing point. Each viable piece becomes an independent plant.
Step-by-Step
- Gently lift the plant and rinse the rhizome to see daughter tubers, bulbils and natural divisions.
- Choose a daughter tuber or a rhizome section that has its own roots and a growing point.
- Separate or cut it cleanly, keeping roots attached.
- Replant the offset in nutrient-rich substrate with the roots buried and the crown exposed.
- Place a root tab beside the new tuber to support this heavy root feeder.
- Trim leaves that reach the surface if you want to keep the submerged form.
Conditions for Healthy Growth
In the wild the species lives in static or slow-flowing waters of low to moderate depth. In the aquarium the knowledge base lists 22-28 C, pH 6-7.5 and a wide GH range, medium light, and a high nutrient demand met mainly through a nutrient-rich substrate; CO2 is not required.
Maintenance
Decide early whether you want a submerged plant or surface lily pads. To hold the submerged form, trim leaves before they reach the surface; to enjoy the star-shaped flowers, let some pads float in an open-top tank. Refresh root tabs periodically so the rhizome keeps producing daughter tubers.
Common Challenges
- Constant surface leaves: natural for a water lily; remove them at the base for a submerged layout.
- Few daughter tubers: usually means a poor substrate, increase fertility and add root tabs.
- Rot after division: a section without a growth point or with damaged roots will fail, choose healthy pieces only.