Chinese Water Chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis)

Family: Cyperaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Eleocharis dulcis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

delicious taste, it is sweet and crisp when fully ripe and is starchy before that. — Corm - raw or cooked.; A delicious taste, it is sweet and crisp when fully ripe and is starchy before that.; Widely used in Chinese cooking, especially in chop suey.; A flour or starch can be made from the dried and ground up corm and this is used to thicken sauces and to give a crisp coating to various deep-fried foods.

Habitat & North American Range

Marshy land and shallow water. The edges of seasonal swamps in Australia. (Zone 9)