Full Sun
Easy care
Frequent watering
Frost Hardy
9a
USDA zone
-7°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
60cm | Max | 3m |
45cm | Min | 20cm |
Flowering
spring
summer
autumn
winter
This plant has a mild fragrance
More images of Water Hawthorn
Water Hawthorn Overview
The Cape pond weed is a deciduous or partially evergreen, perennial, aquatic flowering plant. It has long oval/egg-shaped or lance-shaped floating leaves and unbranched, small, edible, fragrant white flowers with purple anthers. Waterblommetjies flower in profusion during winter and spring. Bees are very attracted to the flowers and may be one of the main pollinators. It is adapted to growing in ponds and vleis which dry up in summer. The dormant tubers sprout again as soon as the pools fill in autumn. This is a well known local delicacy for the cold winter months. It has become so popular that many commercial plantings have been made in ponds around the Western Cape.
How to harvest Water Hawthorn
Allow seedheads to dry on plants and then remove and collect seeds. Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds.
How to propagate Water Hawthorn
Tubers
Plant new tubers in a pot with loam and place it in shallow water until the plants starts growing strong. The pot can then slowly be moved to deeper water in the sun. They seed themselves.
Division
Divide rhizomes in spring or sow seed when ripe.
Rhizomes
Seed
Special features of Water Hawthorn
Attracts useful insects
Bees
Wet sites
It is adapted to growing in ponds and vleis which dry up in summer.
Attractive flowers
Attracts bees
Other uses of Water Hawthorn
Culinary. Ornamental.
Edible
Flowers
