Can I grow this in a regular garden bed?

No, it requires consistently wet soil or standing water to survive.

How deep should I plant it?

Place the crown in shallow water, ideally 5 to 30 centimeters deep.

Plant guide

Pickerelweed.

Pontederia cordata

Pronounced pon-te-DEER-ee-uh kor-DAY-tuh

Also known as Pickerel-weed, Pickerelweed, heart-leaved pickerelweed

Pickerelweed is a lovely aquatic perennial that thrives in shallow water or wet soil. It features heart shaped leaves and tall spikes of blue flowers that attract pollinators. It is a perfect choice for pond edges or bog gardens.

Another photo of Pickerelweed — Photo by M. Whitson (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Aquatic perennial
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every day
Mature size: 120 cm tall and 90 cm wide
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 10
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently saturated or submerge the pot in shallow water. Watch for yellowing leaves which may indicate the water level is too low or the plant needs more nutrients. Trim back dead foliage in late autumn to keep the area tidy.

Watering: Keep the soil constantly wet or submerged in up to 30 centimeters of water.
Feeding: Use an aquatic plant fertilizer tablet pushed into the soil during the growing season.
Pruning: Cut back all foliage to the base after the first hard frost in autumn.
Repotting: Divide the rhizomes every few years to prevent the plant from becoming overcrowded.
Soil: Loamy, clay, or aquatic soil
Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
Temperature: -20 to 35°C
Humidity: 60 to 100%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the pot drainage holes.
The plant becomes crowded and stops flowering.
The soil medium has broken down.

Safety

People: There is no significant toxicity reported for humans.
Children: The plant is generally safe, but keep children away from deep water edges where it grows.
Contact allergens: The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in those with severe hay fever.
Edibility: While seeds are historically edible when roasted, they should not be consumed without expert identification and preparation.

How to identify it

Heart shaped glossy green leaves
Tall spikes of blue flowers
Grows in shallow water
Spreads via creeping rhizomes

Height: 0.6 to 1.2m
Spread: 0.45 to 0.9m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: blue, violet, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: In cold climates, move the container to the bottom of the pond where the water does not freeze solid. If the pond freezes completely, move the plant to a cool, frost free garage in a bucket of water.
In containers: It grows very well in containers placed in ponds, provided the pot is submerged at the correct depth.

Division

1. Remove the plant from the water in spring.
2. Use a sharp spade to divide the rhizome into sections.
3. Ensure each section has roots and leaves.
4. Replant immediately in aquatic soil.

Group with other marginal aquatic plants to create a balanced ecosystem that shades the water and discourages algae.

Grows well with

Yellow Flag Iris · They share similar moisture requirements and create a nice color contrast.
Cattail · They provide a naturalistic look in larger water features.

Similar species

Arrowhead · It is another common marginal aquatic plant with distinct foliage.

Science

Family: Pontederiaceae
Genus: Pontederia
Order: Commelinales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: North and South America
Conservation: It is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It grows in shallow margins of ponds and slow moving streams, helping to stabilize banks.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, provides shelter for aquatic life
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: water gardens, wetland restoration, pond filtration

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this in a regular garden bed?: No, it requires consistently wet soil or standing water to survive.
How deep should I plant it?: Place the crown in shallow water, ideally 5 to 30 centimeters deep.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors Italian botanist Giulio Pontedera, while the species name refers to the heart shaped leaves.

Good to know

It is commonly known as pickerelweed because pickerel fish often hide among its stems.
The flowers open in the morning and close by evening.
It thrives in shallow water up to 30 centimeters deep.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.