Water Mimosa or Sensitive Plant or Neptunia oleracea
Sensitive Plant or Neptunia oleracea is a lovely, tropical, floating plant that floats on the surface of the water producing small, yellow flowers on the leafy fronds of foliage. Sensitive Plant is an aquatic pond plant that grows from a stem, producing cover for fish and helps to eliminate algae as they compete for the same nutrients in the water. The root of the Sensitive Plant may be planted to anchor it to the side of the pond or in a stream bed or simply placed on the surface of your pond and floated. (Neptunia aquatica/oleracea)
Height Grows 3 - 5 inches tall
Width May grow as long as 6 feet by the end of summer
Sunlight Requirements Full sun to part shade
Bloom Flowers bloom all summer long until frost
Moisture Needs Must be placed in water and may not dry out
Fertilize Not necessary
Zone 10 - 11
Pondmegastore Tip: Often used in Asian cuisine
Read more about edible pond plants on this page.
This plant is often called Neptunia Aquatica but the proper name is Neptunia Oleracea. Belonging to the same family of plants as legumes, the plant is beneficial to other pond plants by adding nitrogen back to the pond.
(Minimum 3 plants)
Fascinating Fact! The leaves of this plant are 'sensitive' and curl inward when touched. Plant returns to normal in a few minutes.
No planting necessary, simply place on the surface of the water in full sun to part shade, however, one end of the plant may be planted in soil to anchor the plant in one place. We sell this item potted and floating. Again it need not be potted but will grow more rapidly if planted in heavy loam soil in shallow water.
