莲荷使者 · 一世一莲

Discover the joy of lotus & waterlilies.

I'm Yao Shih Lien, better known as Dr Lotus. For over a decade, I've grown lotus and waterlilies in Singapore and shared what I've learned through my books, talks and hands-on guidance.

Whether you're starting with your first pot or caring for an established pond, I'll help you choose suitable plants, understand their needs and enjoy growing them.

Explore my services Discover my books Visit my garden
Yao Shih Lien, Dr Lotus, smiling with open arms among blooming lotus at a pond lined with palm trees

As featured in Lianhe Zaobao · Mothership · CNA938 · Capital 958

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The one thing to understand

Growing lotus and waterlilies becomes easier when you understand what they need.

For lotus, understanding the growth cycle is especially important. In temperate climates, growers follow the seasons. Here in the tropics, we follow the plant's cycle—knowing when to feed, when to repot and when to let it rest.

That's what I help you understand, so you can grow with confidence.

温带荷花跟随季节，热带荷花跟随周期。

  • 10+ yearsGrowing lotus and waterlilies
  • 2 booksAvailable in English and Chinese
  • 24K+Followers on Instagram

Beyond the books

Helping your water garden flourish.

Whether you're starting with one pot, caring for a pond or organising a learning session, I offer plants, practical help and personal guidance.

01Pond consultationShare photos and questions about your pond or plants. I'll help you understand what they need, with initial advice available for free. 02Pond planting & revivalNew water gardens planted and struggling ponds revived, with ongoing care available after the work is complete. 03Plants & mentoringLotus starter kits and mature lotus and waterlily plants, with six months of personal follow-up guidance. 04Talks & workshopsTalks in English or Mandarin, hands-on workshops and practical training for gardening teams.

Plants for sale

From my garden to yours.

Bring home a lotus or waterlily grown in my garden. Choose a lotus starter kit or a mature plant, and I'll help you find a suitable variety for your space and sunlight.

Every purchase includes six months of personal plant-care guidance, so you can send me photos, ask questions and grow with confidence.

Ask about available plants Follow on Instagram
A lavender-blue waterlily with a golden centre held in a palm
A pure white single-petal lotus
A deep pink night-blooming waterlily above dark water
A pink and white thousand-petal lotus
Two damselflies resting on a white waterlily
A radiant gold-pink waterlily
Bees feeding in the centre of a vivid purple waterlily
A creamy yellow lotus in a terracotta pot
Pink, purple and white waterlilies growing in the same pot
A deep pink peony-like lotus
Pink hardy waterlilies among lily pads beaded with rain
Aussie waterlily Laichi showing four colours on one plant

Pond transformations

Bringing water gardens to life.

At the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands, I helped revive a section of the waterlily pond that had struggled to bloom consistently.

By guiding the gardening team in transplanting existing waterlilies and improving their care, we achieved healthier leaves and renewed flowering—without purchasing any new plants.

Explore pond revival & care Watch the transformation on Instagram
ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands

The Bloom books

Two books. Lessons from my garden.

Illustrated beginner's guides to understanding and growing lotus and waterlilies, based on my experience in Singapore. Available in English and Chinese, with personally signed copies and free delivery anywhere in Singapore.

Cover of Lotus in Bloom
This book belongs toSigned by the author

The first lotus book written in English by a Singaporean on tropical lotus.

Dr Lotus & Waterlily

979-8322781707
Lotus in BloomShih Lien Yao

Inside

Lotus in Bloom

  1. The symbolic significance of lotus
  2. How to select the right lotus
  3. Step-by-step planting guides
  4. How to care for your lotus
  5. Troubleshooting common issues
  6. Fertilisation secrets

Growing Healthy Aquatic Plants · Book 1 · 盛开的荷花

Lotus in Bloom

Learn to grow lotus with confidence—from choosing a suitable variety and planting your first tuber to understanding growth cycles, feeding and repotting. Illustrated with photographs from my own garden.

4.9 on Amazon · 35 ratings

S$24signed

Look inside
Cover of Waterlily in Bloom
This book belongs toSigned by the author

A fully illustrated photographic guide to growing healthy, blooming waterlilies.

Dr Lotus & Waterlily

979-8328409711
Waterlily in BloomShih Lien Yao

Inside

Waterlily in Bloom

  1. Understanding waterlilies
  2. Setting up for success
  3. Care and maintenance
  4. Propagation techniques
  5. Troubleshooting common issues
  6. Showcasing beautiful varieties

Growing Healthy Aquatic Plants · Book 2 · 盛开的睡莲

Waterlily in Bloom

Discover the beauty and diversity of waterlilies and learn how to grow them in a pot or pond. This illustrated guide covers setting up, everyday care and propagating new plants.

5.0 on Amazon · 24 ratings

S$24signed

Look inside
  • Signed by the author
  • Free delivery in Singapore
  • English & 中文 editions
  • Pay by PayNow
  • Stocked at Gardens by the Bay

A two-minute lesson

Lotus or waterlily? Look at the leaves.

People mix them up all the time, and their Chinese names, 荷花 / 莲花 and 睡莲, don't help. They are not the same plant at all. Drag the line to compare.

A lotus holding its round leaves high above the water
Lotus 荷花 / 莲花Nelumbo
Waterlilies opening between notched lily pads floating on a pond
Waterlily 睡莲Nymphaea

Lotus 荷花 / 莲花

Leaves
Round and whole, held high above the water like umbrellas.
Flowers
Rise on tall stalks, then leave a seed pod that looks like a showerhead.
Colours
Red, pink and white, plus yellow from the American lotus.
Grows from
Tubers: the lotus root you know from the kitchen.

Waterlily 睡莲

Leaves
Heart-shaped pads with a notch, floating flat on the water.
Flowers
Open on or just above the surface. Each flower lasts about three days.
Colours
Purple and blue as well, colours a lotus never has.
Grows from
Rhizomes and tubers, and some even grow a baby plant from a leaf.

The tropical lotus cycle

Work with the cycle, not the calendar.

Swipe to exploreScroll to explore

  1. Start with the right setup
    01

    Start with the right setup

    For beginners, I recommend starting with a lotus tuber rather than seeds. Choose a beginner-friendly variety and a suitably sized pot to give yourself a rewarding start.

  2. From tuber to bloom
    02

    From tuber to bloom

    Under suitable conditions, lotus grown from tubers may begin flowering in four to six weeks. Timing varies with the variety and growing conditions.

  3. Enjoy the flowering phase
    03

    Enjoy the flowering phase

    Each bloom lasts about three days. As the plant grows, successive buds bring more flowers to enjoy throughout its flowering phase.

  4. Those familiar showerheads
    04

    Those familiar showerheads

    After flowering, the distinctive seed pods become part of the display. Young green lotus seeds can be eaten fresh, while lotus seeds are also used to make the paste found in mooncakes.

  5. Understand the slowdown
    05

    Understand the slowdown

    Slower growth can signal that a lotus is approaching the end of its cycle. Assess the plant's condition before deciding when to harvest its tubers, give it a rest and repot.

  6. Begin again
    06

    Begin again

    In Singapore, I commonly grow lotus through two cycles a year. Understanding each plant's rhythm helps me plan the next planting and flowering cycle.

  7. Explore the growing cycle, with practical guidance and photographs, in Lotus in Bloom.

    Explore Lotus in Bloom

Bred in Singapore

Hybrids from my garden.

I grow lotus from seed and look for plants with distinctive flowers and strong growing qualities. Each promising seedling is observed over several growth cycles before I decide whether to give it a name. Select a lotus below to discover its story.

Singapura Red 红韵狮城
Pink Jewel
Rossie 2
Still unnamed

Kind words

What growers say.

Helping you grow is as rewarding as growing the plants themselves.

  • Kaye Lee standing in her condominium's waterlily pond

    Dr Lotus helped transform our condo's pond into a flourishing waterlily garden. Working alongside him is always a learning experience.

    Kaye LeeResident, private condominium

  • Jastina Koh beside her pond of purple waterlilies

    With Mr Yao's help, I enjoyed my first lotus bloom and gained confidence to grow a wider collection.

    Jastina KohMumtrepreneur

  • James Wong and Puay Khoon beside their waterlily tubs

    Our water garden has flourished with Mr Yao's support. Even passers-by stop to admire the blooms.

    James Wong and Puay KhoonGolden Agers

  • Tan Geok Kuan tending waterlilies in a pond

    Working alongside Dr Lotus has taught me so much. His book offers valuable guidance for beginners and experienced growers.

    Tan Geok KuanJuan Herbal Cuisine · author of 都市野菜小品

  • Lim Chiauw sitting on the deck of a pond

    He transformed a disused pond into a picturesque waterlily haven, debunking myths some landscapers hold about planting.

    Lim ChiauwAn architect by training, a gardener at heart

  • Robin Seah crouching by a pond full of waterlilies

    Dr Lotus helped me create a water garden my late father treasured. Today, we share that knowledge with beginners.

    Robin SeahCo-founder, SG Water Gardening Lovers

  • Lotus blooms from the garden at Lusiana Hasan's parents' house

    Understanding the lotus growth cycle changed our results. With Mr Yao's guidance, my parents' garden in Bandung now flourishes.

    Lusiana HasanBandung, Indonesia

  • Pink lotus blooming in the temple's lotus garden

    Mr Yao's planting and care guidance revived our temple's lotus garden, bringing beautiful blooms for devotees to enjoy.

    Simon HuangVolunteer gardener, Tse Tho Aum Temple

  • Haslinda Putri Harun with a pink lotus and a lotus seed pod

    Working with Dr Lotus taught me patience and care for plants. Along the way, my teacher became a friend.

    Haslinda Putri HarunThe Asian Gardener

Visit my garden

Come for the flowers, stay for the conversation.

Enjoy the blooms and a chat about growing lotus and waterlilies at my garden in Simpang Bedok. Visits are free, by registration only.

Plan your garden visit

In the press and on stage

“Singapore's foremost authority on waterlilies and lotuses.”

Mothership, May 2026

Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 Mothership CNA938 Capital 958 Shin Min Daily News 新明日报 CPF Board Water Garden Journal

  • International speaker Presented at the 40th China Lotus Exhibition & Conference in Weishan Lake, Shandong.

  • Journal contributor Articles published in the Water Garden Journal of the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society.

  • Pond consultant Consulted on the waterlily pond at the ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands.

  • Books at Gardens by the Bay Lotus in Bloom and Waterlily in Bloom stocked at the Gardens' gift shops.

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