Water chestnut is a tufted, perennial rush-like plant with stems 50 - 200cm tall. The plant has short rhizomes and elongated stolons, most of these terminated by a globose tuber.The plant is widely cultivated for its edible tubers in China, there are some named varieties
Growing plants should be grown in a water depth of at least 10cm until about 20 - 30 days prior to harvesting when the land can be allowed to drain naturally
A plant of marshes and shallow water, it prefers slightly acid soil conditions and a sunny position. Requires a rich fertile soi. Grows best in rich clay soils
Plants perform best at temperatures between 30 - 35°c during the leafy stage of growth, and about 5°c lower when the tubers are being formed[