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Pachira aquatica

French peanut

A large, evergreen tree grown as a houseplant, often with several plants plaited together. Stems are bright green at first, becoming grey-brown; the large, glossy, dark green leaves have five or more lance-shaped leaflets. Can reach 20m in its tropical home, but unlikely to exceed 1.5m in a pot. Mature trees produce spectacular flowers with five, 30cm-long, cream petals and 200 or more gold and crimson stamens, followed by large fruit containing up to 25 nuts

Other common names
Guiana chestnut
Malabar chestnut
see moreMexican fortune tree
provision tree
water chestnut
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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Brown Grey Silver Green Green
Summer Brown Grey Silver Green Cream Red Gold Green
Autumn Brown Grey Silver Green Green Brown
Winter Brown Grey Silver Green Green
Position
  • Full shade
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1B
Botanical details
Family
Malvaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright, Spreading branched
Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in an open, free-draining compost in bright light or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed, semi-ripe cuttings or air-layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning

Cut back shoots as necessary to control size, in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, glasshouse red spider mite and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to a leaf spot

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