Although over time artificially cultivated water lilies have grown bigger and bigger, it's not unusual to see a natural lotus with a width of 20 to 30 centimeters, far greater than any water lily. Green leaves are often seen as embellishments to the colorful flowers. The leaves of the lotus are not lacking in their own beauty.
畫家眼中，荷花比睡蓮「大氣」，雖然時下人工栽培的睡蓮花朵越開越大，但原生荷花開出二、三十公分寬不稀奇，遠非睡蓮可及，還曾被誇張地形容為「開花十丈藕如船」。