SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 12443.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "12443" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

waterloving hawthorn

Scientific Name: Crataegus limnophila

Family: Rosaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Tree, Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Water Hawthorn (Aponogeton distachyos)

Aponogeton distachyos, commonly known as Water Hawthorn, is a fascinating aquatic plant prized for its almond-scented flowers and unique flowering habits.

Considerations for Pets

  • This plant grows from a submerged tuber.
  • The plant may be present in ponds, potentially accessible to pets.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant may be present in ponds, potentially accessible to children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Aponogeton distachyos
  • Common Names: Water Hawthorn, Water Hyacinth (note: Water Hyacinth typically refers to Eichhornia crassipes)
  • Family: Aponogetonaceae

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to South Africa.
  • Suitable for waterlogged or riverside gardens.
  • Thrives in consistently moist soil and aquatic environments like ponds.
  • Can survive in 10-20cm (4-8 inches) or more of water above the plant’s crown.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Deep-water plant with floating leaves and flowers.
  • Elongated, spear-shaped leaves develop from a submerged tuber.
  • Leaves are mid-green, often developing burgundy-colored blotches with age.
  • Lily-like plant with elliptical leaves.
  • White flowers with an almond fragrance, held just above the water's surface.
  • Flowers appear in spring and can bloom throughout the year, even in winter.
  • Grows in 15-60cm of water.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Attracts bees, especially when flowering in spring.
  • Newts may be present among the leaves when the plant is flowering.
  • Snails can eat through young marginals and moisture-loving plants, which might include Water Hawthorn if it's planted as a marginal.

Quirky Facts

  • The white blooms are hawthorn scented, giving the plant its common name, even though it is not related to hawthorn trees.
  • It has an unpredictable flowering pattern.

Further Information

  • Find help and information from the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society).
  • Available for purchase from Crocus.