Family: Nelumbonaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability (>5 hardiness zones)
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Naturalized outside native range (but no evidence from Hawaiian Islands, to date)
- An aquatic weed of lakes, reservoirs, and water bodies, impacting boating, fishing, swimming and potentially competing with native vegetation
- Nelumbo lutea is also regarded as an invasive weed
- Forms dense, smothering mats in aquatic habitats, restricting and outcompeting native species
- Reproduces sexually be seeds and asexually by rhizomes
- Self-compatible
- Able to reproduce in one growing season
- Seeds and rhizomes dispersed by water and intentionally cultivated by people
- Seeds may persist for 100s of years, or longer, forming a persistent seed bank
Low Risk Traits:
- May be safe to cultivate in a contained pond or other water feature with minimal risk of natural dispersal
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Edible to humans and animals
- Ornamental
- Requires full sun
- Certain herbicides may provide effective control