Sachet de graines de nénuphar bleu Nymphaea caerulea sur fond blanc

Nymphaea Caerulea seeds close-up – blue seeds to scarify for waterlily culture

Fleur bleue étoilée de Nymphaea caerulea ouverte à la surface de l'eau

Feuilles flottantes et fleur de nénuphar bleu dans un bassin ornemental

Nénuphar bleu Nymphaea caerulea en situation dans un bassin de jardin

Waterlily seed pack : Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus)

Name: Waterlily seed pack : Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus)
Brand: Univers Aquaponie
Price: 6.9 EUR
Availability: InStock

9,90 €

Seeds of Nymphaea caerulea, the blue Egyptian water lily. Despite its common name of blue lotus, it is a true water lily: its leaves float on the surface rather than rising above it. Pale blue star-shaped flowers with a yellow centre, open in the morning and closed by the afternoon, for three to four days.

This is a tropical, non-hardy plant: it should be sown in heated water between 25 and 30°C and cannot overwinter outdoors in mainland France. Allow 1 to 1.5 m² of water surface per mature plant.

Format : 20 seeds

10 seeds

20 seeds

40 seeds

7/7 customer service by e-mail

Payment in instalments, free of charge

The summary

What you receive: seeds of Nymphaea caerulea, the botanical blue water lily, in packets of 10, 20, or 40 depending on the size selected.
Seedling: sow from April to June, indoors, under 2 cm of water kept between 25 and 30 °C, in full light. Germination in 3 to 4 weeks.
Hardiness: tropical plant, tolerates down to -1 °C only. It will not overwinter outdoors in mainland France.
Space required: a mature plant occupies 1 to 1.5 m² of water surface at a depth of 30 to 60 cm.
Patience required: from seed to first flower, allow 2 to 4 years. Floating leaves, however, appear in the first summer.
Use: ornamental pond plant. Freely available in France; a number of European countries restrict its sale.

Blue tropical water lily to sow, 1 to 1.5 m² per mature plant, not frost-hardy

The Nymphaea caerulea is the blue Nile water lily, the one depicted in the frescoes and carved onto the capitals of ancient Egypt. Its nickname "blue lotus" causes confusion: botanically speaking, it is not a lotus at all. A true lotus, of the genus Nelumbo, holds its leaves above the water on a rigid stem; the Nymphaea, by contrast, lays its leaves flat on the surface. If it is the upright habit you are after, have a look at Nelumbo nucifera lotus seeds, which require an entirely different growing approach.

The flower measures 10 to 20 cm in diameter depending on the source and the age of the plant, pale blue to lavender blue, with a golden-yellow stamen centre. It opens mid-morning, closes in the late afternoon, and repeats for three to four days before submerging. The leaves, rounded and split, reach up to 40 cm in diameter on an established plant. You'll find the rest of our range in the aquatic plants collection.

Three things to know before you sow

First, this is a tropical plant: it can tolerate down to -1 °C, but no lower. In mainland France it will not overwinter outdoors and requires frost-free storage. Second, germination demands genuinely warm water, between 25 and 30 °C: water at 18 °C will not bring these seeds up. Third, from seed to first flower, allow two to four years: the first season produces floating leaves, rarely flowers.

Sow, prick out, install

Unlike Nelumbo lotus seeds, which are as hard as stones, water lily seeds are small, around 2 mm, and should not be scarified. Sow them directly into a tray of fine compost and sand, covered with a millimetre of grow medium, then submerged under a very shallow layer of water. The whole challenge comes down to two factors: water temperature and light. A heated seedling corner, like the one described in our guide on setting up an indoor seedling area, takes care of both at once.

In a propagator

A tray of fine compost and sand, seeds covered with 1 mm of medium, submerged under 2 to 3 cm of water at between 25 and 30 °C, in full light. Germination in 3 to 4 weeks.

At transplanting

As soon as two or three true floating leaves appear, one plant per pot of heavy compost and sand, under 5 to 10 cm of water. Increase the water depth as the plant grows.

In place

Basket submerged 30 to 60 cm under water, in full sun, in calm water. A minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.

How many seeds to order

One mature plant covers 1 to 1.5 m² of water surface. Two reference points to help you decide: a 3 m² pond comfortably accommodates two to three plants, and a one-metre square terrace planter will hold only one. You should also allow for losses: between seeds that fail to germinate and seedlings lost at transplanting, expect roughly half the packet to reach the established plant stage. For two or three plants in the end, a packet of 10 seeds is sufficient; the 20- and 40-seed formats are intended for covering a large water feature or for giving yourself two attempts across two seasons.

In autumn, before the first cold spells, remove the basket and bring it indoors away from frost. Two approaches exist: storing the rhizome dry in slightly moist sand in a cellar kept between 10 and 15 °C, or keeping the plant growing in a heated tank at around 20 °C with supplementary lighting. The rest of the care is the same as for any ornamental pond plant, and our practical calendar gives the tasks month by month. This page covers Nymphaea caerulea solely as an ornamental pond plant; no other use is suggested or documented here.

Technical specifications

The plant

Botanical name: Nymphaea caeruleaAlso referenced as Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea. A water lily, not a lotus in the botanical sense.
Hardiness: Down to -1 °CZone USDA 10 à 12. Ne passe pas l'hiver dehors en France métropolitaine
Area per mature plant: 1 to 1.5 m²Spread of approximately 1 to 1.5 m. The Missouri Botanical Garden reports up to 2.4 m in tropical climates.
Water Depth at Maturity: 30 to 60 cmAbove the collar. Tolerates 25 to 90 cm depending on the source
Flower: Pale blue, 10 to 20 cmStar-shaped, yellow stamen centre. Open in the morning, closed in the afternoon
Flower lifespan: 3 to 4 daysIt then submerges to form the seed capsule
Leaves: Floating, up to 40 cmRounded and lobed, green then marked with brown towards the end of the season
Flowering: From July to SeptemberIn mainland France, on an already established plant

Seedling and germination

Seedling period: From April to JuneIndoors or in a greenhouse. The limiting factor is water temperature, not the time of year.
Scarification: Not requiredUnlike Nelumbo lotus seeds, which do need to be filed
Water temperature: 25 to 30 °CStudies under controlled conditions go up to 35 °C. Below 20 °C, germination becomes very unreliable.
Water depth at seedling stage: 2 to 3 cmJust above the grow medium, no deeper. Seedlings need to reach the surface quickly.
Seedling depth: 1 mm of grow mediumFine compost and sand. A simple layer to hold the seed in place
Light: EssentialLight triggers germination in this species. Do not cover the propagator.
Germination time: 3 to 4 weeksConverging value across the horticultural and botanical sources consulted
First flowering: 2 to 4 yearsFrom seed. SANBI and specialist growers report 3 to 4 years

In the pond

Light exposure: Full sun6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day at minimum
Water temperature: 20 to 30 °CGrowth slows noticeably below 18 °C
Water movement: Still waterKeep away from jets, waterfalls and pump outlets
Grow medium: Heavy soil and sandTwo thirds non-peaty garden soil, one third sand, in a slatted basket.
Overwintering: Frost-free, essentialRhizome stored dry in damp sand between 10 and 15 °C, or in a heated tank at around 20 °C
Routine maintenance: Removing Spent LeavesAnd dividing the clump in spring, once a year, for specimens grown in baskets

The sachet

Sizes: 10, 20 or 40 seedsThe quantity corresponds to the format selected above
Seed size: Approximately 2 mmSmall and dark, not to be confused with the lotus seed, which is hard and the size of an olive.
Storage: In water, in the darkBetween 8 and 12 °C according to water lily producers. Sow in the following season.
Treatment: NoneUncoated and untreated seeds

18 further specifications are available in the detailed view.

In the box

Pack of 10 seeds

10 Nymphaea caerulea seeds
1 resealable packet labelled with the botanical name

Pack of 20 seeds

20 Nymphaea caerulea seeds
1 resealable packet labelled with the botanical name

Pack of 40 seeds

40 Nymphaea caerulea seeds
1 resealable packet labelled with the botanical name

The germination, spread, water depth, and hardiness values come from SANBI (the South African National Biodiversity Institute), the Missouri Botanical Garden, and specialist growers, cross-referenced in pairs. Sources differ on two points, noted as such: the spread of a mature plant, given as around 1 m by SANBI and up to 2.4 m by the Missouri Botanical Garden in a tropical climate, and the water depth, given as 23 to 41 cm by one source and 30 to 90 cm by the other. No container, basket, grow medium, or heating equipment is included with the seeds: all of this needs to be purchased separately.

Estimate your
delivery time

A packet of seeds is sent as a small parcel and can be grouped at no extra cost with the rest of your order. The exact amount is calculated at checkout. Outside France, please check the status of the species in your country before ordering: it is banned in Poland, Latvia and Russia, and regulated in the United Kingdom.

Frequently asked questions

12 questions

6 key questions, 12 in the detailed view

Is the sale and cultivation of Nymphaea caerulea permitted in France?

Yes, as far as we are concerned: the plant does not appear on the French list of substances classified as controlled drugs, and it is sold freely as an ornamental pond plant. It is not, however, authorised as a foodstuff or supplement within the European Union.

Its status varies from country to country. The species is banned in Poland, Latvia, and Russia, and regulated in the United Kingdom under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016. If you are ordering from any of these countries, please check the applicable regulations before placing an order — we are not in a position to do this on your behalf.

This page describes exclusively an ornamental use. No other use is suggested, described, or recommended.

How do you germinate Nymphaea caerulea seeds?

Fill a tray with fine compost mixed with sand, moistened and firmed down.
Place the seeds on the surface and cover them with approximately 1 mm of grow medium, no more.
Submerge the tray under just 2 to 3 cm of water.
Keep the water between 25 and 30 °C, in full light, without covering.
Replace some of the water every three days to keep algae in check.
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for germination, then transplant one seedling per pot as soon as two or three true floating leaves have appeared.

Water temperature is the critical factor: below 20 °C, germination becomes very erratic. A heat source is essential, as with any early seedling described in our guide to setting up an indoor seedling space.

Should you scarify or file water lily seeds?

How many seeds do I need for my pond?

The calculation starts with surface area: one mature plant occupies 1 to 1.5 m² of water surface.

Tub or half-barrel under 1 m²: 1 plant
Pond of 3 m²: 2 to 3 plants
Pond of 10 m²: 6 to 8 plants, leaving open water between them

Allow for losses: between seeds that fail to germinate and seedlings lost during transplanting, expect roughly half the packet to reach the established plant stage. For two or three permanent plants, the 10-seed pack is sufficient.

Does the blue water lily survive winter outdoors in France?

No: it is a tropical species, rated down to -1 °C and classified in USDA zones 10 to 12. In our climate, it is managed as a plant requiring winter protection, by one of two approaches.

Rhizome at rest. Remove the basket before the first frosts and store the rhizome dry, in slightly moist sand, between 10 and 15 °C, protected from frost.

Plant in active growth. Keep it in a heated indoor tank at around 20 °C, with supplementary lighting.

If you are looking for a water lily that can stay outdoors all year round, hardy water lilies are what you need — not this one.

How long before the first flower appears?

What is the difference between Nymphaea caerulea and the lotus Nelumbo?

Criterion	Nymphaea caerulea	Lotus Nelumbo
Habit	leaves lying flat on the water surface	leaves held upright above the water on a rigid stem
Seed	approximately 2 mm, soft	hard, roughly the size of an olive
Seedling	no scarification needed	very hard seed coat — file before soaking
Hardiness	tropical	several Nelumbo overwinter outdoors, rhizome must be kept frost-free

We stock both: pink Nelumbo nucifera lotus seeds and this page for the blue water lily. Our article on lotus in aquaponics covers the differences in cultivation in detail.

What water depth does a full-grown blue water lily need?

What germination rate should you expect?

No germination rate has been published for amateur seedlings, and we will not invent one. The only measured figure we have found, 66 %, comes from a laboratory protocol in a sterile environment, involving ethanol and bleach disinfection followed by scarification with sulphuric acid. These scientific literature protocols are designed to produce sterile cultures, not for home sowing, and give no indication of results in a domestic propagator. Instead, think in terms of quantity: sow generously and expect roughly half the packet to reach the established seedling stage.

Can the blue water lily be grown in an aquarium or in aquaponics?

In a heated aquarium, yes, while the plant is young. It's actually a convenient way to get through the first winter, in water at around 20 to 25 °C with good lighting. A mature plant, however, needs 1 to 1.5 m² of free surface area and quickly becomes unmanageable in a tank.

In aquaponics, the interest is ornamental, not nutritional. The plant is not a vegetable and doesn't consume nitrates at the rate of a food crop; it shades and decorates the pond section of a system. Our article on lotus in aquaponics sets the scene, and the list of plants to grow in aquaponics shows what truly plays a nutritional role.

What are the key figures for the blue water lily?

Germination temperature: 25 to 30 °C
Water depth at sowing: 2 to 3 cm
Sowing depth: 1 mm
Germination period: 3 to 4 weeks
First flowering: 2 to 4 years
Surface area per mature plant: 1 to 1.5 m²
Water depth at maturity: 30 to 60 cm
Flower diameter: 10 to 20 cm
Leaf diameter: up to 40 cm
Hardiness: -1 °C, USDA zones 10 to 12

These are approximate figures taken from botanical and horticultural sources, not guaranteed values.

What maintenance is needed throughout the season?

Growing calendar

Reference points for mainland France, to be shifted by around two weeks depending on your region. The date matters less than the water temperature: it is that which triggers or blocks germination.

Stage
Indoor seedling3 months	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling in April	Indoor seedling in May	Indoor seedling in June	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling: no	Indoor seedling: no
Transplanting into pots3 months	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots in May	Transplanting into pots in June	Transplanting into pots in July	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots: no	Transplanting into pots: no
Introducing to the pond3 months	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond in June	Introducing to the pond in July	Introducing to the pond in August	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond: no	Introducing to the pond: no
Flowering3 months	Flowering: no	Flowering: no	Flowering: no	Flowering: no	Flowering: no	Flowering: no	Flowering in July	Flowering in August	Flowering in September	Flowering: no	Flowering: no	Flowering: no
Frost-free overwintering6 months	Frost-free overwintering in January	Frost-free overwintering in February	Frost-free overwintering in March	Frost-free overwintering: no	Frost-free overwintering: no	Frost-free overwintering: no	Frost-free overwintering: no	Frost-free overwintering: no	Frost-free overwintering: no	Frost-free overwintering in October	Frost-free overwintering in November	Frost-free overwintering in December

KeyIndoor seedlingTransplanting into potsIntroducing to the pondFloweringFrost-free overwintering

This month September

Growing guidance

Seedling period: April to JuneIndoors, water temperature matters more than the date
Water temperature at seedling stage: 25 à 30 °CBelow 20 °C, germination becomes very uneven
Water depth at seedling stage: 2 à 3 cmAbove the grow medium, no higher
Seedling depth: 1 mmA simple covering of fine compost and sand
Scarification: Not neededUnlike Nelumbo lotus seeds
Germination time: 3 to 4 weeksConsistent value across the sources consulted
First flowering: 2 à 4 ansFrom seed, not from transplanting
Area per mature plant: 1 à 1,5 m²This figure is what determines the quantity to order
Water Depth at Maturity: 30 à 60 cmAbove the collar, reached gradually
Light exposure: Full sun6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day
Hardiness: -1 °CZone USDA 10 to 12, frost-free overwintering required
Crown division: Once a yearIn spring, on plants grown in baskets

What you need to know

The water temperature is the single parameter that makes or breaks this seedling. A propagator placed on a radiator or a heat mat will germinate; the same propagator on a windowsill at 18 °C will not, and the seeds are wrongly blamed.
Do not cover the propagator with an opaque cover: in this species, light plays a part in triggering germination. A transparent lid to retain warmth, yes; a piece of cardboard, no.
Do not flood the seedlings. At the sowing stage, 2 to 3 cm of water is sufficient, and the level should only be raised as the leaves reach the surface. A seedling that cannot reach the light will exhaust itself within days.
Change part of the water in the germination tray every three days. In warm, well-lit water, filamentous algae take hold quickly and smother young seedlings.
Use a heavy garden soil mixed with sand, never a peat-based compost from a shop: peat compost floats, clouds the water for weeks, and feeds algae more than the plant.
Keep the basket well away from any waterfall, jet or pump outlet. Nymphaea does not tolerate constant water movement — its leaves will tear and flowering will become sparse.
Take the basket in before the first night of frost, not after. The plant can handle down to -1 °C, but a single hard freeze is enough to lose a three-year-old plant.
Divide the plant in spring, once a year. A rhizome left cramped in its basket for several seasons produces a great many leaves and fewer and fewer flowers.

Let us talk about your project

Une question sur ce produit ou votre installation ? Notre équipe vous répond et vous conseille.

Email us Contact form

Paiement plusieurs fois sans frais

Proposé selon le montant du panier, au moment du paiement.

Livraison sous 5 à 15 jours ouvrés

Selon les produits et sites d'expédition. Estimation par destination dans l'estimateur de cette page.

SAV 7/7 par mail ou chat

Notre équipe répond à toutes vos questions.

Faire un achat engagé

Devenez acteurs du changement.

Waterlily seed pack : Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus)

The summary

Blue tropical water lily to sow, 1 to 1.5 m² per mature plant, not frost-hardy

Sow, prick out, install

Technical specifications

Estimate your
delivery time

Frequently asked questions

Growing calendar

Vous aimerez aussi

Related articles

Growing lotus in aquaponics

Creating your indoor seed-starting setup

A practical calendar for success in aquaponics

What plants can be grown in aquaponics ?

What to grow in hydroponics through the seasons?

Let us talk about your project

Waterlily seed pack : Nymphaea Caerulea (Blue Lotus)

The summary

Blue tropical water lily to sow, 1 to 1.5 m² per mature plant, not frost-hardy

Sow, prick out, install

Technical specifications

Estimate yourdelivery time

Frequently asked questions

Growing calendar

Vous aimerez aussi

Related articles

Growing lotus in aquaponics

Creating your indoor seed-starting setup

A practical calendar for success in aquaponics

What plants can be grown in aquaponics ?

What to grow in hydroponics through the seasons?

Let us talk about your project

Estimate your
delivery time