# pickerelweed (*Pontederia cordata*) Pickerelweed is a lovely plant that grows in wet areas like ponds and marshes. It has big green leaves and pretty purple flowers that bloom in the summer, making it a favorite for butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 45 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![pickerelweed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/00_3803_Wasserpflanze_-_Herzbl%C3%A4ttriges_Hechtkraut.jpg&width=800) Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:00_3803_Wasserpflanze_-_Herzbl%C3%A4ttriges_Hechtkraut.jpg) ## Appearance The pickerelweed has glossy, heart-shaped green leaves that stand tall above the water. Its most striking feature is a dense, upright spike of vibrant blue-purple flowers, each with a small, bright yellow spot, creating a showy display in wetlands. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Commelinales - **Family:** Pontederiaceae - **Genus:** Pontederia ## Interesting facts - Its heart-shaped leaves can be 25 cm long, making them easy to spot in water! - Pickerelweed can grow rooted in mud even when water is over 1 meter deep! - Pickerelweed seeds are often eaten by ducks and other wetland birds as a snack! - The bright yellow spot on each tiny flower helps guide bees straight to nectar! ## Special abilities - **Water Purifier:** Pickerelweed can absorb excess nutrients from water, helping to keep its aquatic home clean and healthy. - **Aquatic Anchor:** This plant has strong roots that anchor it firmly in muddy lake or pond bottoms, even in moving water. - **Wildlife Haven:** Its dense stands provide excellent shelter and hiding spots for small fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-120 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer, Fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — attracted to its vibrant blue flowers - **Eats:** [muskrat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/muskrat) (*Ondatra zibethicus*) — rootstocks and foliage are a food source - **Eaten by:** mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — seeds provide food for waterfowl - **Shelter:** [largemouth bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — young fish hide among its stems ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay close to an adult when exploring wet areas, as they can be slippery. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify pickerelweed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is pickerelweed? 30-120 cm ### How wide does pickerelweed spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on pickerelweed? 1-2 cm ### When does pickerelweed bloom? Summer, Fall ### Is pickerelweed edible? Yes ### Is pickerelweed toxic? None ### What is pickerelweed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Algonquin Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/algonquin-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Audubon Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/audubon-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Burke Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burke-lake-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see pickerelweed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pickerelweed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Pickerelweed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pickerelweed)