Pontederia cordata

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Pickerelweed is an aquatic plant grown in water rather than soil, and the grower lists it as suitable indoors – in a bright bowl, aquarium or water container it makes an easy indoor water plant, and it also thrives outdoors in a patio water tub.

Quick Details

• Container Size: A watertight tub, bowl, half-barrel or mini-pond – grown in standing water, not soil
• Indoor Suitability: Suitable indoors in a water container with good light
• Best Spot: Full sun, half shade or full shade
• Soil & Drainage: No drainage – the container holds water; root it in aquatic soil topped with grit under the water
• Watering in Pots: Keep the container topped up; it needs a constant, generous body of water

Indoors & On the Windowsill

• Indoors: The grower lists it as suitable indoors; grown in a water container by a bright window it makes an unusual indoor marginal, and it tolerates lower light too.
• Light: Even indoors it is happiest in bright light; near a window keeps growth compact and healthy.

On a Balcony or Patio

• Light & water: Stand the water container where it gets the light levels above; top it up often, as an open tub of water evaporates fast in sun and wind.
• Weight & siting: A full water container is very heavy – make sure the balcony or shelf can take the load before filling it, and site it on a level, stable base.
• Planting depth: As a marginal, sit its pot on bricks so the crown is at the right depth – just at or below the water surface rather than deep under it.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

• The container: Any watertight vessel works – a glazed pot with no holes, a half-barrel with a liner, a bowl or a purpose-made mini-pond. No drainage holes here; the point is to hold water.
• Growing it: Plant it in a mesh aquatic basket of heavy loam or aquatic soil topped with grit to stop it clouding the water, then lower it to the right depth.
• Water & feeding: Keep the water topped up with rain or aged tap water; these plants feed from the water, so go easy on fertiliser and remove decaying leaves to keep it clear.
• Upkeep: Divide or thin crowded growth each year to keep it healthy and stop it swamping the container.

Bloom & Edible Flower Guide

Quick Details

• Bloom Season: Spring, and on through the warm months
• Flower Appearance: Upright spikes of small blue-to-purple (sometimes white) flowers, each with a yellow spot
• Edibility: The young flowers are edible — scattered raw into salads in the foraging tradition; enjoy in moderation

Detailed Blooming Overview

Pickerelweed is a marginal water plant that carries dense, upright spikes of blue-purple flowers above its arrow-shaped leaves through the warm season. Each little flower has five lobes and a small yellow spot at the throat. Beyond its garden value, the young flowers are edible and can be added raw to salads.

Flower Characteristics

• Small flowers in purple, blue, or white
• Five petals, each with a yellow spot in the center
• Massed on an upright spike above the foliage

Bloom Care & Thinning

• Placement: grow in shallow water or saturated soil at the margin for the best flowering.
• Pollination: worked by bees and other insects.
• Using the flowers: if you gather them for the table, pick clean, freshly opened blooms and use them sparingly.