Pontederia cordata
Pickerelweed
Common names: Heartleaf Pickerelweed
Photo: Cephas · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
Pontederia cordata, commonly known as pickerelweed, is a wetland and shallow-water plant featuring heart-shaped, glossy leaves and blue-violet spike-like flower clusters. In its natural form it grows 40–80 cm tall and forms dense stands over time. It is considered harmless and non‑toxic to children and pets, making it an attractive border and flowering companion for naturalistic pond gardens.
Care instructions
Plant pickerelweed in the shallow-water zone of your pond, keeping the water level 5–15 cm above the root ball. Provide a sunny to partially shaded location. The substrate may be nutrient-rich and loamy; a container with pond soil helps control spread. Remove spent flower spikes regularly to extend blooming into late summer. In mild winters the plant tolerates frost in water; in colder areas keep the root zone frost‑free beneath the ice. Every three to four years, in spring (week 15–18), divide the stands to keep the plant vigorous.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, nutrient-rich, humus-rich, loamy
Feeding
Medium feeder
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