Dwarf lily
Nymphaea stellata
Also known asTiger lotus · red dwarf lily
Water parameters
Light and nutrients
Substrate type: nutrient rich. Propagation: bulb.
Substrate compatibility
| Substrate | pH effect | Nutrient load |
|---|---|---|
| Aquasoil (ADA Amazonia) | lowers pH | very high |
| Mineralized clay substrate (Seachem Fluorite) | neutral / inert | moderate |
| Dirted tank (mineralized topsoil) (DIY soil substrate) | slightly acidic | very high |
With fish
Origin and habitat
The species commonly sold as 'dwarf aquarium lily' is Nymphaea stellata or a related Nymphaea species from tropical Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia). The plant grows from a bulb and produces broad, reddish to green lily-pad-shaped leaves. Submerged leaves are triangular to arrow-shaped, often deeply red to purple-brown, attached to the bulb on short stems. If allowed to reach the surface, the plant transitions to floating lily pads: round, flat, green-topped, red-bottomed leaves connected by long flexible petioles. The submerged red foliage is the plant's main attraction in aquarium use. In the wild, Nymphaea species grow in still ponds, slow rivers, and floodplain pools across tropical Asia.
Care notes
Plant the bulb with the top third above the substrate. Moderate to high light brings out the deepest red coloring in the submerged leaves. Under low light, leaves tend toward green-brown rather than the vivid reds seen under strong lighting. CO2 is not strictly required but improves growth and color intensity. Iron supplementation (root tabs and/or liquid iron) supports the red pigmentation. The plant naturally wants to send leaves to the surface to form floating lily pads; in an aquarium, these floating leaves shade out everything below. Most keepers trim the petioles of surface-reaching leaves to keep the plant producing the attractive submerged foliage. If you never let it reach the surface, it continues producing compact, colorful submerged leaves indefinitely. Growth is moderate to fast with good light. The bulb stores energy; a new bulb grows vigorously for weeks even in marginal conditions, then slows as reserves deplete. Long-term success requires light and fertilization. Propagation by daughter bulbs or by seed if flowers develop. Temperature: 22–28°C. An eye-catching focal point in the midground of planted tanks. The bulb occasionally produces runners or daughter bulbs, providing natural propagation. Multiple bulbs in a tank can create a dramatic display of red and green submerged foliage. Temperature: 22–28°C. The species tolerates a broad range of water chemistry (pH 5.5-8.0, GH 2-15). A striking centerpiece plant that adds color without requiring the careful stem trimming that red stem plants demand.