Lotus is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California, United States. It is located 1 mile west of Coloma, at an elevation of 722 feet. The settlement was established in 1849 and named for James W. Marshall, discoverer of gold. In 1850, the name was changed to Uniontown to commemorate California's admission to the Union. The name was changed to Lotus with the arrival of the post office in 1881.