Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)

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

Trapa natans is a PERENNIAL. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet floury and agreeable flavour, similar to sweet chestnuts (Castanea spp). — Seed - raw, cooked or dried and ground into a powder.; A sweet floury and agreeable flavour, similar to sweet chestnuts (Castanea spp).; The seed contains up to 50% starch according to one report, 16% starch, 3% protein in another report and 15% protein, 7.5% fat in a third.; (Are all these reports talking about the same thing?).

Habitat & North American Range

Water up to 60cm deep. (Zone 6)