Image of Pontederia cordata
Source: Cephas
image of Flowering plant
Pontederia cordata
Pickerelweed
Pontédérie cordée

Obsolete Names

heart-leaved pickerelweed
langue du boeuf
pontédérie à feuilles en coeur
Seeds available at table Full Sun
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Purple Bloom period: Jun - Aug
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 2.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture wet Tolerates wet soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
Landscape uses:
wetland garden Suitable for wetland garden
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Ecological Benefits:
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
bee host Bee host
Tolerates:
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
rabbit resistant Rabbit resistant
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Pontederia cordata
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Pontederia cordata

No butterfly data available for this plant.

Specialized Bees Supported by Pontederia cordata

  • Dufourea novaeangliae
  • Florilegus condignus
  • Melissodes apicatus
Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

Substitute For Non-Native Plants

  • Pistia stratiote (Water Lettuce)
  • Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)

Sowing Information

Download Sowing Label (PDF)
  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow by February
  • Stratification duration: 60 days
  • Notes: Sow promptly. Can be kept in fridge up to 2 months.

Harvesting and Seed Sharing

  • Harvest start month: August
  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are brown and slightly open
  • Harvesting mean: Open the pod, remove seeds
  • Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/4 teaspoon
  • Seed storage: Keep moisten and cool, in a ziploc bag, in the fridge, with the seeds in soil, paper towel or coffee filter, until donation
  • At least one cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
  • No harvesting video available at this time.

Toxicity Notes

Inadequate information on toxicity found but might be toxic.