You can't ship a lotus this time of year. You have to grow a lotus from seed now. If you want to buy a lotus plant, you have to purchase one in early spring, in March at the latest where you live, and then they will ship the tuber to you.

If you want to grow them from seeds, try a craft store for lotus pods. I got my lotus seeds from Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago, and this is the 2nd year they've come up. The blue bin isn't that attractive, but it works.

Yes fyresongbird, they are viable. Don't know what color they will be, but that's fine with me. Google online for sprouting the seeds; it's fairly easy. Good luck.