Orders for Nelumbo lutea, American lotus must be placed at least a day in advance as they need to be removed from my pond.
 
This beautiful aquatic plant grows to be 3 to 6 feet tall. It requires standing water and full sun. The 10" wide flowers start blooming in June and continue through September giving it a long bloom time and one of North Americas largest flowers. The flowers attract a wide range of pollinators and make a great resting place for dragonflies. The leaves float on the waters surface and are hydrophobic, giving frogs a place to sunbathe. Young leaf shoots and seeds are edible, and have a sweet corn taste. It is a host plant to a few insect species including the American Lotus Borer. 
 
Sporadic across  NC from the Piedmont to the coast. 
 
More info here