Pachira aquatica
Back to Previous Page
Common Name: water chestnut
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Malvaceae
Zone: 10 to 12
Native Range: Mexico to northern South America
Height: 20 to 30 feet
Spread: 20 to 30 feet
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
Bloom Color: White
Bloom Description: Yellowish-white with red-tipped stamens
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Showy Fruit, Edible Fruit
Other: Winter Interest
Uses: Rain Garden

Culture

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-12 where it may be grown in medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Plants tolerate close to full shade. They are best sited in locations protected from strong winds. Plants grow well in areas that are flooded for part of the year. If grown away from water bodies, plants need consistent moisture. Houseplants perform best in bright light with moderate but even moisture.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Water chestnut (also known as Guiana chestnut and Malabar chestnut, but often sold by nurseries as a houseplant or bonsai under the name of money tree) is a tropical estuarine species that is native to freshwater swamps, estuaries and river banks in tropical rainforests from Mexico to northern South America. It is cultivated in Hawaii and southern California. This tree is typically grown outdoors in frost-free climates as a tropical ornamental with attractive flowers and edible nuts. In cooler climates, it is often grown indoors as a foliage houseplant (rarely flowers) or bonsai, sometimes with braided trunks. Water chestnut is an evergreen tree or large shrub that will grow to 60' tall in its native habitat, but usually smaller (to 30') in home landscapes. Houseplants typically grow to 6-8' tall. Each palmately compound leaf has 5-9, elliptic to lance-shaped, shiny green leaflets (to 5-10" long). Large, greenish to yellowish-white flowers feature five long cream-colored petals surrounding 200-250 tightly-packed, red-tipped stamens (to 3-4" long). Bushy stamens have a shaving-brush like appearance. Fruit is a heavy, woody, brown capsule (to 12" long) that bursts when mature to release edible nuts which may be eaten raw or roasted or ground into flour. Roasted nuts reportedly taste like chestnuts and the specific epithet comes from the Latin word for water, hence the common name of water chestnut for this plant. Young leaves and flowers may be cooked as a vegetable. Money tree comes from an old tale in which a poor man acquired wealth by discovering this tree and selling its seeds.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Plants will drop leaves if soils become dry.

Garden Uses

Interesting tropical plant for frost-free areas. Foliage houseplant. Bonsai.

Back to Previous Page