A bulb that turns into a centerpiece. Nymphaea stellata / rubra, the Dwarf Water Lily, pushes broad deep-red leaves from a tuber within eight to ten days of planting — and how you trim it decides whether you get a submerged red bush or floating lily pads on the surface. What You'll Receive Bulb Only Without Leaf – For experienced aquarists seeking to sprout naturally. Sprouted Bulb With Leaf – For faster results and an immediate visual impact. Simply rinse the bulb in clean water and place it in your tank or pond. Growth should appear within 8–10 days. Plant Profile Common name — Dwarf Water Lily Scientific name — Nymphaea stellata / rubra Also known as — Nymphaea lotus 'Red' Plant type — Bulb / tuber Placement — Centerpiece, rooted in substrate Mature height — 6–12 in submerged; leaves will reach the surface if left untrimmed Growth rate — Fast Care Difficulty — Beginner Light — High. Light intensity is what sets how red the leaves go CO₂ — Not required Water — 72–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5 Substrate — Required. Root feeder — nutrient substrate or root tabs Growth habit — True aquatic. Does not grow emersed Propagation — Rhizome division; the tuber produces daughter bulbs Grower's Notes Trimming decides the plant you get. Cut every leaf that reaches for the surface and it stays a compact red bush. Let them run and you get floating pads — and the shade under them cuts algae and gives fish cover. Both are correct; pick one deliberately. Press the bulb halfway into the substrate. Fully buried, it rots. It feeds at the roots and feeds heavily. Root tabs under the bulb are the difference between a slow sulk and 8–10 day growth. A resting phase is normal. If it stalls, ease off the light and let it recover rather than dosing harder. Not the same as our Red Tiger Lotus, which carries dark tiger mottling on the leaves. This one is plain deep red. Want to go deeper? Read our complete Nymphaea (Water Lily) Care Guide. Notes While our bulbs are fresh and carefully selected for high viability, we do not guarantee that every bulb will grow, as successful sprouting depends on individual aquarium conditions. Choose the Sprouted Bulb With Leaf if you prefer a guaranteed start. Pictures shown are sample representations. Unless stated, we do not guarantee whether plants will grow submerged or emersed. Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
