Water Capestar


Water Capestar

Spiloxene aquatica

Scientific name

A small geophytic plant suitable for water gardens and wetlands. Its white, star-shaped flowers with bright yellow centres, make a pretty display and brighten up a winter garden. It was previously known as Spiloxene aquatica. It has 2-7 small,star-shaped, white flowers, with green stripes on the underside of the 3 outer petals. The flowers are suspended on long, slender pedicels and subtended by 2 broad, leaf-like bracts. The flower stalk bends towards the earth as the capsules open, in order to drop their seeds (0.4-1.0 mm in size) directly on the ground, or in water.

Propagation instructions

By seed

¨Sow seed in autumn and take care not to sow the fine seed too deeply. Water during the winter-growing period and cease watering during the summer-dormant period. Plants should remain in the seed tray for at least two seasons before transplanting into pots. Plant corms 1-3 cm deep, depending on the size of the corms, in rich but well-drained soil and do not allow them to dry out during the winter months. Seedlings will flower only after the second or third season. Pauridia prefer full sun and will only flower well if they are in this position. They do not tolerate frost.¨

References and further reading

PlantZAfrica profile »

Wikipedia page »

Image credit: richardadcock
We currently have no seeds of this species in our seedbanks. Do you have any seeds or do you know where we can get some? Get in touch!
We currently have no plants of this species in our home nurseries. Do you have any plants or do you know where we can get some? Get in touch!

This table below shows how many plants we are trying to obtain for this species.

Site Area Quantity
Site #71 Rondebosch 300
Site #72 Rondebosch 300
Site #69 Rondebosch 300
Total 900

Important characteristics

Conservation status: Least Concern

This species was selected because it has various important characteristics.

Fragrant

Suitable for wet sites

Suitable for sandy soil

It provides food for:

Honeybees/flies

Monkey beetle

Spiloxene aquatica is indigenous to: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos

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