Description of Pontederia cordata (Pickerel Weed)

Pontederia cordata is pickerel weed, a classic pond-margin plant with upright blue-purple flower spikes in summer. It’s a solid choice when you want a clump-forming marginal that looks good from June right into early autumn.

Appearance

It has heart-shaped leaves on sturdy stalks. From mid summer, it sends up spikes packed with small violet-blue flowers. In the right spot it often reaches 60 to 90cm, sometimes taller if the basket is deep and well fed.

Care Guide

Grow it as a marginal in a basket or planted into heavy soil at the edge. Warmth and sun make a big difference to flowering.

• Sun: Full sun gives the best flower spikes.
• Soil: Aquatic compost or heavy loam in a basket, topped with gravel.
• Water depth: Shallow water over the soil line, often around 10 to 30cm.
• Feeding: Aquatic fertiliser tablets help in containers.
• Tidy up: Cut dead stems back in late winter.

If the clump becomes crowded, lift and split it in spring. Replant strong pieces and it will bulk up again quickly.

Suitability for Bog Garden

This suits bog gardens when you have a true wet zone or a pond shelf. If your bog is only damp, it can grow, but it tends to flower better with water around the basket.

Use it as a mid to back plant and put lower growers in front. It also works as a marker plant near corners and steps because the leaves stay upright and clear.

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