Description of Pontederia cordata 'Pink' (Pickerel Weed)

Pontederia cordata 'Pink' is a pickerel weed with pink flower spikes in mid to late summer. It’s a proper pond-margin plant and it gives you flowers when a lot of bog planting turns leafy and green.

Appearance

Heart-shaped leaves rise from the base, then sturdy stems carry upright spikes of soft pink flowers. It usually reaches 60 to 90cm tall and makes a chunky clump over time.

Flowering is often July to September in the UK, especially in a sunny spot. The leaves also look good even when it’s not in bloom.

Care Guide

Grow it like a marginal. Think pond basket, heavy soil, and steady water around the roots.

• Sun: Full sun gives the best flowering. Light shade is fine, but expect fewer spikes.
• Soil: Fertile loam in an aquatic basket, topped with grit to keep it tidy.
• Water depth: Shallow water above the soil line works well. Aim roughly 10 to 30cm over the compost.
• Feeding: Aquatic fertiliser tablets help in baskets, especially in summer.
• Tidy up: Cut dead stems back in late winter.

If the clump gets big, lift and split it in spring. Replant a few strong pieces and it will fill in again quickly.

Suitability for Bog Garden

This one suits bog gardens when you have a wet zone that behaves like a pond margin. If your bog is just damp compost with no open water, it can still work, but it shines most when the basket sits in shallow water.

Use it behind lower growers like water forget-me-not or marsh marigold. It also makes a good divider between different planting areas because the leaf shape is bold and easy to read from a distance.

In wildlife ponds it earns its keep. The leaves give cover at the edge and the flower spikes pull in pollinators.

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