Sagittaria sagittifolia

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Old World arrowhead

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Old World arrowhead RHS

Other common names

arrowhead, common arrow leaf, common arrowhead, swamp potato, swan potato, water archer

Synonyms

Sagittaria japonica

Plants for pollinators
Aquatic Bogs
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Arrowhead, named after the shape of its emergent leaves, is a perennial . Its floating leaves are oval. Flowering stems reach 80cm in height.Flowers are borne on these spikes in July and August. Each is about 3cm across and has three white petals with purple at the base

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

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

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
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)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Alismataceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Sagittaria can be marginal or submerged aquatic, tuberous perennials or annuals, with linear, lance-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves and panicles of 3-petalled white flowers in summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Eurasia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows in sun or semi-shade, in deep mud and up to 20cm of slow or still, fresh water. See pond plants and bog gardens for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by division or by stolons

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free