Water Mimosa Plant Description

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. The sensitive Plant is an aquatic pond plant that grows from a stem, producing a cover for fish and helping 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 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

POND PLANT Tip: Often used in Asian cuisine 

Read more about edible pond plants on this page.

This plant is often called Neptunia Aquatica, but its proper name is Neptunia Oleracea. It belongs to the same family 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. The plant returns to normal in a few minutes.

Planting Instructions

No planting is 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 it 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.