Nymphaea zenkeri
Statement feature, deep-red triangular leaves on long stems, with lily pads at the water surface if you let it. Snip surface pads ruthlessly if you want the submersed leaves to keep producing; pads otherwise dominate and shade out everything below. Goes dormant for 3–4 months between active growth cycles, let the bulb rest.
Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) is a bulb / rosette aquatic plant for the midground (with floating pads at surface) of a planted tank. It reaches 30–50 cm under good conditions and grows at a fast rate. Light: medium to high. CO₂: optional. Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + bulb half-buried, not fully submerged. Propagate via bulb division / runners.
Care at a glance
Statement feature, deep-red triangular leaves on long stems, with lily pads at the water surface if you let it. Snip surface pads ruthlessly if you want the submersed leaves to keep producing; pads otherwise dominate and shade out everything below. Goes dormant for 3–4 months between active growth cycles, let the bulb rest.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether red tiger lotus fits in your tank.
Nymphaeaceae
Bulb / Rosette
Midground (with floating pads at surface)
Nutrient-rich substrate + bulb half-buried, not fully submerged
Bulb division / runners
Slow weedy backwaters of the Nile basin
West Africa (Cameroon)
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: optional. Light requirement: medium to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a fast rate.
Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) needs medium to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: midground (with floating pads at surface). Substrate: Nutrient-rich substrate + bulb half-buried, not fully submerged It typically reaches 30–50 cm.
Propagation method: Bulb division / runners. Red Tiger Lotus is a bulb / rosette plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 5.5–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low.
Difficulty: 2/5. Forgiving, beginner-friendly once the tank is cycled.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
