- Approximate leaf spread: 45cm (18 inches).
- Recommended water depth over crown of plant: 15 - 30cm (6 - 12 inches).
- Flowering time: April - October
- Flower colour: White
- Supplied as one loose flowering-size bulb - for best results we recommend potting on using a 1 litre pot
Previously known as Aponogeton krauseanus or krausianus, this plant from southern Africa is very rare in cultivation, which is a shame because it is unusual and easy to grow. The sweetly-scented white flowers are tipped with attractive yellow stamens, and in the height of summer stand several inches above the water, giving the plant an eye-catching tropical look. They are nicely set off by the apple-green, strap-like, floating leaves.
Unlike the much more common Aponogeton distachyos this species is smaller, prefers more shallow water, and does not go dormant in hot weather. Instead it will often flower from late April right through until the first hard frosts of autumn. Like the common species though, great pond snails (freshwater whelks) may chew its leaves, so if you have large numbers of these in your pond you may want to avoid it.
If designing a planting scheme, we recommend approximately 1 Aponogeton desertorum plant per two square feet of water surface. Read more here on how to pot and care for your plant.