Nymphaea stellata (star lotus) is a tropical water lily producing leaves that range from plain green to deep red, purple, or heavily mottled depending on the cultivar. In an open-top aquarium the plant will eventually grow surface-reaching pads and produce small, attractive star-shaped flowers. As a purely submerged plant, surface leaves can be trimmed to encourage a denser spread of larger submerged leaves below the waterline.It grows in medium light without CO2 injection and does best in a nutrient-rich substrate. It is a vigorous grower in ideal conditions and can fill the background of a large aquarium substantially. Regular removal of surface leaves is recommended to control spread and keep the plant in proportion with the rest of the tank.Supplied as a dormant bulb. Plant in substrate leaving the top third of the bulb above the surface. Allow several weeks for growth to begin from dormancy. Suited to aquariums of 100 litres and above where there is room for its eventual background spread.
