ST. LAWRENCE EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO PARTNERSHIP FOR REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT
New York supports two closely related lotus species that can look extremely similar at a glance but differ greatly in origin, ecological role, and management priority.
Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), also called Asian lotus or Indian lotus, is a nonnative aquatic plant from Asia. Within its native range, it is valued for its medicinal properties as well as for phytoremediation capacities, improving water quality in polluted wetlands by absorbing excess nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) and heavy metals from industrial effluents. Though widely cultivated for its ornamental, religious, and culinary uses, it has escaped cultivation in parts of the eastern United States, including New York, posing challenges for native plant communities and ecosystems.
Sacred lotus spreads aggressively through rhizomes and long-lived seeds, forming dense surface canopies. These monocultures can choke out shallow lakes, restrict water flow, and outcompete submerged native vegetation for sunlight by producing large leaves that rise above the water surface. This reduction of open water also poses a threat to local recreation.
Sacred lotus occurs primarily in humaninfluenced waterbodies, such as ornamental ponds, slow-moving lakes, and impoundments. Confirmed occurrences in New York are concentrated in Long Island, where the species is categorized as common by NYIS. Other regions in New York remain at risk through introduction, though the species has not yet been detected outside of Long Island, making it a Tier 1 species in SLELO PRISM.
Identification – Sacred Lotus
American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is a native, emergent aquatic perennial in the lotus family (Nelumbonaceae). It grows from thick rhizomes anchored in soft sediment, with leaves and flowers that rise well above the water surface. Flowers are large (up to 10 inches wide), creamyellow to pale yellow, and highly distinctive, followed by coneshaped seed pods.
American lotus has long ecological and cultural significance. Indigenous peoples used the tubers and seeds as food, and lotus stands provide habitat, cover, and food resources for fish, waterfowl, and invertebrates. Although native to North America, American lotus can form dense colonies under favorable conditions and may appear “aggressive” in localized areas. It’s nativity in New York remains debated; however, populations should still be treating with proper care due to its abilities to form dense mats that shade out other aquatic vegetation and reduce water flow.
American lotus grows in shallow lakes, ponds, backwaters, marshes, and slow moving rivers with soft, muddy substrates. It was historically considered native to New York, based on 19th century accounts of a single population at Sodus Bay. Nativity was later questioned, suggesting the population may have been planted and cultivated by First Peoples. Additional New York occurrences, such as Cayuga Lake, are known to be naturalized from cultivation rather than native. Today, the Sodus Bay population is considered extirpated, the Cayuga Lake population persists, and overall Nelumbo lutea is regarded as a very uncommon species in New York, with only the former Sodus Bay population considered of possible native origin. In 2024, SLELO PRISM detected a population at South Colwell Pond, Lakeview Wildlife Management Area which is now the second known population in New York.
Both sacred and American lotus species can be mistaken for our region’s native pond lilies including Fragrant White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata) and the Yellow Pond Lily (Nuphar variegata). Lilies however have notched leaves that float flat on the water, while lotus leaves are fully circular, waxy, and stand above the water. Lotus flowers are held high above the leaves, often with a prominent shower-head-shaped seed pod, whereas lily flowers float directly on the surface
Do not plant these species, as this prevents the spread from ornamental ponds to water ways.
Though the native status of American lotus is debated in the SLELO region, tracking this species is highly important to understand it’s distribution and effects. In areas where populations have been detected such as at South Colwell Pond, careful management can keep aggressive expansion in check and help contain further spread. Flower heads containing seeds can be cut and safely removed from the site to prevent the generation of new plants. Leaves can also be cut below the surface of the water which starves the rhizomes, or roots, of oxygen. Management should be conducted in close communication with the sovereign nation whose ancestral lands include the area of infestation to ensure alignment with best management practices.
Sacred lotus is a Tier 1 species, calling for rapid response efforts following detection. Hand pulling is effective for small or new infestations, ensuring to remove the entire plant, including rhizomes. Cutting leaves and stems below the surface of the water can drown the plant over time, though it may require repeated efforts. In extreme cases herbicides can also be applied in late spring or early summer, in combination with surfactants like Cygnet Plus for better adherence to the waxy leaves.
Take a clear, close-up photo, note the location (GPS coordinates are best), and report observations to NYiMapInvasives or directly to the SLELO PRISM’s Aquatic Restoration and Resiliency Coordinator, Adrien Owens, Adrien.Owens@tnc.org.
Education and stewardship are the most effective ways to prevent invasive species from establishing. Join our Water Protector’s Program to support early detection of this and other aquatic invasive species. Participants learn to identify and report priority species to NYiMapInvasives and adopt a waterbody for annual monitoring
SLELO PRISM also offers the Aquatic Invasive Species Learning Experience (AISLE), a three‑part training held annually that includes a virtual ID session, a hands‑on workshop, and a guided paddle.