荷花就是蓮花，挺水之水生植物，具不定根，叢生在泥地下變態莖的節上。變態莖分成走莖（單軸分枝）及膨大莖（藕）。膨大莖（主幹），似長鞭狀於泥地下伸展，分枝不多有明顯的頂芽優勢現象，節間長約30～50公分。葉生於地下莖的節上，1節僅生1葉，葉柄長約1～1.7公尺，挺出水面。徑1～2公分，長有倒刺。葉盾狀、圓型，全緣，寬約25～80公分。花萼與花瓣同形同色，不易分辨，展開後共16瓣。雄蕊多，可達200個，長2公分，圍繞著花托。每蕊可分成3部份，花藥在中段，黃色。花托頂端平截，分布10～30個等距小孔，為雌蕊之柱頭，有黏液，整個花托和雌蕊合稱蓮蓬。柱頭下是子房，授粉後，子房內產生1粒種子，呈橢圓至卵型，1～2公分。
喜好高熱、高濕的環境，分布在亞熱帶至溫帶的品種於冬天時，泥地上（水面上）之常綠部位會枯萎，莖藕會膨大。花期為5～10月。在中國賦予不少幽雅之名，如未開花者稱「菡萏」，已開曰「芙蕖」；至於『出淤泥而不染，濯清漣而不妖』等辭句，更是人格培養上的經典字語。於印度，佛經對於蓮花的記載更為廣泛，蓮花幾乎可以和「佛」劃上等號。在佛教符號體系中，蓮花代表漂浮在欲望污水之上，純潔身體和心靈的表徵。此亦與其葉不易沾水，不易染塵，有天生的奈米自潔現象有關。
荷是地球上最古老的被子植物之一，在中國幾千年前古墓內發現的蓮子，至今仍會發芽成長，原因之一，是古墓與種子，均具有堅硬而密封的外殼，不透水也不受氧化而存活。本種為原產於中國之藥、食材，經引種至世界各地栽培作觀賞用。在臺灣栽有不少品種作食用及觀賞，以「大賀蓮」、「建蓮」、「石蓮」、「菜蓮」，以及臺南蓮花世界林先生研發之「白蓮3號」為主。
雖然臺南白河地區每年均辦荷花季活動，但它卻是花蓮縣的縣花。與睡蓮(Nymphaea tetragona Georgi)常被混淆，一般以睡蓮葉子貼在水面、葉緣齒狀及無蓮蓬來區別。據《本草綱目》之記載，蓮可補中養神，益氣力，除百疾。久服，輕身耐老、不飢延年、止渴去熱、安心止痢、治腰痛及泄精。多食令人歡喜、交心腎、濃腸胃、固精氣、強筋骨、補虛損、利耳目、除寒濕、止脾泄久痢、赤白濁、女人帶下崩中諸血病。搗碎和米作粥飯食，輕身益氣，令人強健。
Also known as the Indian lotus, the sacred lotus is an aquatic perennial. Its roots grow in the soil of ponds or stream bottoms, and their large leaves, which can grow as large as 60cm in diameter, float at the water surface. Its flowers are typically held several centimeters above its leaves by their thick stems, and blossom during May to October. Its seeds have a high survival rate, and when the conditions are favorable, they can remain viable for years.
Sacred lotus has the ability to regulate the temperature of its flowers and can live for over a millennia. In Buddhism, the lotus represents purity of body and mind, as it is born from the mud, but remains unstained and graceful as a whole.
Its flowers, seeds and roots are all edible. In Asian countries, the flower petals are sometimes used as garnish, and its leaves are often used to wrap food. Its stamens can also be dried to produce a fragrant herbal lotus tea.