Pontederia cordata

RHS Plant Profile
pickerel weed

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pickerel weed RHS 2003
pickerel weed visionspictures.com

Other common names

heart-leaved pickerel weed, wampee

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A marginal aquatic perennial to 1.2m, forming a clump of erect, lance-shaped or ovate, bright green leaves to 18cm in length, with dense erect spikes, to 15cm in length, of small tubular deep blue flowers in late summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Pontederiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Pontederia are herbaceous perennials from marginal aquatic habitats, forming clumps of erect, linear or lance-shaped leaves, with 2-lipped blue flowers in dense terminal spikes in late summer and early autumn
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Eastern N America to Caribbean

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in baskets of fertile loam, in shallow water (10-12cm deep) and in full sun. See pond plants and bog gardens for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring as growth starts or propagate by seed sown in containers as soon as ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free