Pollinator plant

Pickerel Weed

Pontederia cordata

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

31 names · 22 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (21)
Dutch
  • Moerashyacint[2][3]
  • Snoekkruid
French
  • Pontédérie cordée
  • Pontédérie à feuilles cordées[2][3]
Afrikaans
  • Jongsnoekkruid[3]
Catalan
  • Pontedèria[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 北美梭魚草[3]
  • 梭魚草[3]
Czech
  • modráska srdčitá[3]
Danish
  • hjertevandkærte[3]
Finnish
  • herttasoikko[3]
German
  • Herzblättriges Hechtkraut[2][3]
Hungarian
  • Tömött sellővirág[3]
Japanese
  • ナガバミズアオイ[3]
Polish
  • Rozpław sercolistny[3]
  • Rozpław sercowaty[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Понтедерия сердцевидная[3]
Slovak
  • pontedéria srdcovitá[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • pontederia[3]
Thai
  • ช่อครามน้ำ[3]
Turkish
  • Pontederya[3]
Ukrainian
  • Понтедерія серцеподібна[3]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Pontederia cordata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Pickerel Weed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Pontederia cordata.
  • Pickerelweed — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Pontederia cordata.
[2] Pontederia cordata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Pickerel weed — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Moerashyacint — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Herzblättriges Hechtkraut — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Moose-ear — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • pickerelweed — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Camalote — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Espigas de agua — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Lirio del agua — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Pontédérie à feuilles cordées — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Aguapé-de-Coração — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
[3] Pontederia cordata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Pickerel weed — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Moerashyacint — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Herzblättriges Hechtkraut — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Moose-ear — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • pickerelweed — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Camalote — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Espigas de agua — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Lirio del agua — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Pontédérie à feuilles cordées — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Aguapé-de-Coração — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • 梭魚草 — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • 北美梭魚草 — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • modráska srdčitá — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • 梭鱼草 — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Понтедерия сердцевидная — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • pontederia — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Jongsnoekkruid — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • ช่อครามน้ำ — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Rozpław sercowaty — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Rozpław sercolistny — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • hjertevandkærte — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • herttasoikko — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Pontedèria — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • ナガバミズアオイ — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • pontedéria srdcovitá — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Tömött sellővirág — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Понтедерія серцеподібна — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
  • Pontederya — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 52599; Pontederia cordata.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Botanical family
Pontederiaceae

Genus-level classification for Pontederia; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Pontederia cordata.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

Sources [2]
Mature height
0.61–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.46–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Frequent Standing Water; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, moths, pollinators, specialized bees.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Canada to N. Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil to N. Argentina.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Unknown suitability
Nectar value Unknown
Pollen value Unknown
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Water
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.80 m high × 0.50 m wide
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-11
Moisture
Wet
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Seed
Edibility
3 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Seeds: can be eaten raw and can also be cooked like rice. The seeds can be dried and then ground into a powder. They have a pleasant nutty flavor and are delicious lightly roasted in the oven. Young leaf stems: edible both raw and cooked. The leaf stems are a tasty addition to salads and can also be prepared like spinach or added to soups.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Pontederia — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 3542015; ID 8W2MK; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Pontederia cordata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: TaxonomyMature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pontederia cordata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1147762; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 363473, 363474, 363475, 363476, 363477, 363478, 363479, 363480, 363481, 363482, 363483, 363484, 363485, 363486, 363487, 363488, 363489, 363490, 363491, 363492, 363493, 363494, 363495, 363496, 363497, 363498, 363499, 363500, 363501, 363502, 363503, 363504, 363505, 363506, 363507, 363508, 363509, 363510, 363511, 363512, 363513, 363514, 363515, 363516, 363517, 363518, 363519, 363520, 363521, 363522, 363523, 363524, 363525, 363526, 363527, 363528, 363529, 363530

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.