Aponogeton distachyos, commonly known as waterblommetjie, Cape-pondweed, or water hawthorn, is an aquatic perennial herb native to the still waters of ponds, vleis, and marshes in South Africa’s Western Cape and Mpumalanga provinces. It is adapted to a seasonal climate where water bodies dry up in summer and refill with the autumn rains. The plant features floating, oval-shaped leaves and produces sweetly scented white flowers with a brush of purple that are held above the water surface from late winter to spring, providing an attractive display.

Waterblommetjie is valued for its ornamental flowers and is often used in water gardens and ponds. It is also a traditional culinary ingredient in South African cuisine, where the flower buds are used in a stew known as waterblommetjiebredie. In cultivation, it requires standing water or wet mud to thrive and prefers full sun to part shade. While generally low maintenance, it can become invasive outside its native range due to its rapid growth and ability to spread. Gardeners should ensure it is not a prohibited or invasive species before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0