Aeschynomene fluitans (Botswana Wonder)

Aeschynomene fluitans (Botswana Wonder) is an aquatic perennial forming a dense, floating mat of hollow to spongy stems that spread rapidly over the water surface. The stems are clothed with pinnately compound, blue-green leaves that close up when lightly touched. The leaves have small oblong leaflets, 16-26 pairs per pinna, arranged in opposite pairs. Dainty, yellow flowers, resembling sweet peas, appear over the foliage from summer to fall. They give way to flat pods, 1-2 in. long (2-5 cm). Native to Southern Africa, Botswana Wonder occurs naturally in slow-moving rivers, ponds, and floodplains. Botswana Wonder is an attractive and unusual accent plant for the water garden.

• Grows up to 4-10 in. tall (10-25 cm) and 3-8 ft. wide (90-240 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade. Allow it to float freely, or place it between rocks or in an aquatic basket to keep it from moving around.
• No serious pest or disease issues.
• Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
• Monitor the growth and trim periodically as necessary.
• Overwinter indoors in an aquarium.
• Native to Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia).