Lotus is a staple food throughout China, Southeast Asia and India. Lotus leaves, stems, tubers, seeds and flowers are all relished. When asking for edible lotus, the focus is on the lotus tuber. A lotus tuber is the primary growth of the lotus plant in the mud. Lotus tubers look like sausages linked together, with unique air passages on the inside. Once harvested, washed and peeled the lotus tuber may be sliced, boiled or stir fried. The tuber has a mild flavor, with a crisp texture. Lotus are cooked with other vegetables, pickled in vinegar or candied as a dessert. Young tubers are favorites for salads, while mature tubers are used for soups.
Edible lotus are the focus of many research centers throughout China. Researchers look for ways to maximize the yield per hectare, improved growth and vigor and better disease resistance. Edible lotus typically grow in deeper water, making them more challenging to harvest. Today’s new cultivars maybe successfully grown in soil depth of as little as 6 inches (15 cm), with 10 inches (25 cm) of water on top. Growing in these conditions make it much easier to harvest the tubers. Strides are being made to produce a “whiter tuber”, which is more appealing and some varieties with a sweeter taste.
Bergen Water Gardens is pleased to offer a limited number of edible lotus varieties for sale in 2018:
Sufeng 1 Edible Lotus
Sufeng 1 was developed using “space technology” from the popular “Cailan 2”, which is one of the original “space varieties”. Sufeng 1 was introduced in 2015. Sufeng 1 grows in shallow water and features a white skin. It has a crisp character and the entire piece maybe consumed. This variety is ideal to eat fresh in a salad or as a fresh fruit; just like an apple!
Ju Wu Ba Edible Lotus
Ju Wu Ba was developed at the Aquatic Vegetable Research Institute, released in 2018. This new hybrid is quickly becoming the most popular edible lotus. Ju Wu Ba produces a strong, large tuber and is prolific grower. Ju Wu Ba has a bonus of a white flower as it grows. Plants grow to 66 inches (170 cm) with a leaf diameter of up to 39 inches (100cm). Ju Wu Ba primary tubers will have 5 to 7 sections, with a total length of 31 to 118 inches (80 to 300 cm)! The diameter of this tuber will be 3.3 inches (8.5 cm). Ju Wu Ba will grow in shallow water, making it easier to harvest. The skin is a yellow and white color and crisp texture. Ju Wu Ba maybe used in salads, deep fried or in soups. Ju Wu Ba is translated as biggest and “no one can compare with it – the best”. Ju Wu Ba is the name given to McDonald’s Big Mac in China. Big Mac is often the common English name used for this edible lotus
Space Edible Lotus
Space lotus is a new edible lotus introduced in 2018. Space may produce tubers longer the Ju Wu Ba, often weighing up to 20 lbs. Space lotus will grow in shallow water. The tuber is white, crisp and tender. Space is a vigorous grower, producing many tubers.
Andy Zhao says
Hi, Sir:
I’m form Houston of USA. I’m looking for buying Ju Wu Ba edible Lotus and Space Edible lotus for my lake pool farming.
Larry Nau says
Any , both are still available on our website:
https://bergenwatergardens.com/chinese-lotus-tubers-for-sale/ju-wu-ba-edible-lotus/
https://bergenwatergardens.com/chinese-lotus-tubers-for-sale/space-edible-lotus/
Randall says
I’m looking to buy American lotus tubers
Larry Nau says
Randall, Are you asking for the Native North American lotus Nelumbo lutea? We do not currently have any tubers for sales. If you are asking for American hybrids by Perry Slocum, sadly most of those are very rare. the place to try would be Perry’s Water Gardens
Sethu says
Hi Sir
I am planning to buy JuWuBa and Space lotus. Would like to know if I place the order, by when it will reach Livermore, CA. and how soon it has to be planted after it is received. Please advice Thanks,
Larry Nau says
Sorry but all of our edible lotus are sold out for 2019. We will start taking order for 2020 in October 2019 thank you
Stephen says
Hello sir,
Which lotus is best for seed production? I would like to grow lotus that produce lots of seeds with good taste for eating and making lotus seed paste.
Thank you.
Larry Nau says
The 3 we currently offer fir Spring 2020 are:
https://bergenwatergardens.com/chinese-lotus-tubers-for-sale/space-36-lotus/
https://bergenwatergardens.com/chinese-lotus-tubers-for-sale/jian-lian-17-lotus-edible-seed-lotus/
https://bergenwatergardens.com/chinese-lotus-tubers-for-sale/jian-lian-35-lotus-edible-seed-lotus/
We are also going to China soon and may have a few others to offer for 2020.
Space 36 might be the leader still
Stephen Berlin says
Thank you very much!
I will purchase some of these lotus from you, I can’t wait to grow them.
Larry Nau says
thank you very much for your order and support of our efforts
Dang-My says
Hello Larry,
Is there any chance that I can get an lotus tuber that produces good edible seeds?
Thank you very much.
Larry Nau says
There are several but they are already sold out for 2020
https://bergenwatergardens.com/product-category/edible-lotus/
russ says
Warm greetings! When will will you be taking orders again for the “juwuba”? Thank you very much for your time and assistance!
Larry Nau says
The website will open in October 2020 for Spring 2021 orders. Lotus tubers are not harvested until after Chinese New Year in 2021. Our imports normally arrive in mid March and we start shipping at the end of March.
russ says
Thank you! Understood. That’ll give me time to prep container and soil.
Steohanie says
Hi
I would like to buy some edible lotus roots from you. I want Ju Wu Ba tubers. Is it too late?
Larry Nau says
Lotus tubers are available end of March through May. We open our website for pre orders starting in October. Generally edible lotus tubers are sold out by February!
Sharon says
Hi,
I live in Portland, OR where it’s cold and rainy.
What lotus do you recommend that has edible leaves for steam sticky rice and fry lotus flower petals? If I can eat the lotus roots, that’ would be a great too but more importantly, I’d like edible leaves to steam sticky rice in.
Larry Nau says
Essentially all the leaves from lotus may be used for sticky rice steamy. the size will vary according to the cultivar. Normally the leaves are partially dried as fresh lotus leaves tend to be bitter. Usually there is no preference to fry the lotus petals. Again a larger flower will produce a larger petal, making it easier to work with.
Sharon says
What edible lotus root you do recommend for large leaves and larger petals with edible lotus roots to eat? My pound is 6 feet long x 4 feet wide x 3 feet deep
Zuilfqar shah says
I want to purchase Edible Lotus runout roots,can see picture of edible lotus and give the price
Larry Nau says
at this point we are sold out for 2021. Please check our website over the next few weeks as we may still have a a few more available.https://bergenwatergardens.com/product-category/edible-lotus/
Amy says
Hi,
I plan to buy Honghu edible lotus which it is currently out of stock. Is the listing for lotus tuber with growth tips that I can plant in my pond? Will you still have this variety this year? Thank you.
Larry Nau says
Sorry but this variety sold out months ago. Our website will open in October 2021 for preorder of lotus tubers for late March 2022. These are very popular and sell out quickly!
Amy says
I see. thank you. Could you recommend any edible lotus tuber that is in stock and will produce a lot of vegetable lotus? If I order today, do you ship them now? Thank you again.
Gisela Wong says
Hello, I want to buy your edible Lotus for 200 sqm pond. Are you sending to Germany? How do you pack them for savety transport? Does it come with certificate? Your Price,please.
Larry Nau says
We sold out of edible lotus 2 months ago. We open our website in October for the following spring shipping. We do ship to Germany via UPS but you need to include a $40 phytosanitary certificate. Also edible lotus tubers are heavier so shipping is about 25 to 30% more than standard lotus tubers.
Gisela Wong says
Hello, is it possible to get the seeds for Nelumbo nucifera to grow them for tubers?
Thank you! Greetings
Larry Nau says
sorry we do not offer seeds
Dirk says
Hi, just wondering why only puerto Rico and u.s. can be selected when checking out. How do i manage the shipping to germany and what are the related costs for the certificate for each plant and shipping? We would like to order edible lotos of all kind. When does the preorder start for next spring shipping? Thx for your kind reply. Cheers Dirk
Larry Nau says
contact us at [email protected] to place an international order. A phytosanitary certificate is $40 for the shipment. No import permit is necessary for the EU. Shipping we will not know until they are boxed up. Warning edible lotus tubers are larger and heavier and therefore more costly to ship. We had a shipment 5 micro lotus tubers in 2022, the smallest tubers we offer, that shipment was about $86 to Germany. Website is open now and shows what we are offering in 2023. thanks
My says
Hello Lau,
I emailed to order Space 36, Jian Lian 35, Jian Lian 17 in summer 2021 and summer 2022, and didn’t get reply from Lily. I messaged to inform you on FB and was told that you would remind Lily, but I never got reply from her.
Now, I see they’re still available. Can I order now?
Thank you.
Larry Nau says
Preorders are being taken now on the website for 2023. Please realize that edible lotus usually sell out by February to March. Depending where you live, we start shipping tubers at the end of March through May.