Aponogeton distachyos

RHS Plant Profile
water hawthorn

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Other common names

Cape asparagus, Cape pondweed, hawthorn-scented pondweed, water hyacinth, winter hawthorn

Aquatic
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A deciduous or partially evergreen aquatic perennial, with elliptic or lance-shaped floating leaves. Small, fragrant white flowers are held just above the water surface on forked stems

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Aponogetonaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Floating
Genus
Aponogeton are submerged rhizomatous perennials with simple, floating leaves and small, white flowers in forked racemes or panicles held just above the surface
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S Africa (Cape)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows in sun or partial shade from tubers anchored in mud or submerged containers. Thrives in still water at depths of 30 cm or more. It has the potential to spread quickly and become a nuisance in favourable growing condition

Propagation

See cultivation notes

Pests

May be susceptible to water snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free