Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Pontederia cordata (Pontederia lanceolata)
Pickerel Weed
Pontederia cordata is the standard flowering marginal for a still-water edge. Glossy heart-shaped leaves stand clear of the surface on strong stalks, and through summer the clump throws dense spikes of violet-blue flowers, held well above the foliage. Narrow-leaved plants are sometimes offered as Pontederia lanceolata, a name now treated as a synonym of P. cordata.
It grows in saturated soil or in standing water to about 300 millimetres deep, spreads steadily by rhizome, and holds a pond margin against wave wash better than most planted alternatives.
Specifications
- Height0.6 to 1.2 metres above the water surface
- Width0.5 to 1 metre per clump, spreading by rhizome
- Native toThe Americas, from eastern North America south to South America
- FoliageGlossy, heart-shaped emergent leaves on strong upright stalks; deciduous in cool climates and evergreen in warm ones
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilGrows in saturated loam or heavy soil, in aquatic baskets or directly in a lined margin
- LightFull sun to partial shade
- WaterPermanently wet; standing water to about 0.3 metres deep
- ClimateThrives from temperate through to subtropical regions
Additional Features
- FlowersDense spikes of violet-blue flowers held above the foliage through summer
- UsesPond and lake margins, constructed wetlands, rills, water features and bioretention basins
- SpacingPlant 0.4 to 0.5 metres apart for a continuous margin
- Low MaintenanceCut back spent foliage annually and divide congested clumps every few years
- Pest ResistanceGenerally trouble free
- Wildlife AttractionFlowers are worked by bees, and the clump gives cover to dragonflies and amphibians
- Erosion ControlRhizome mats hold a soft margin against wave wash
Pickerel Weed is the dependable flowering marginal, giving a still-water edge both structure and a long blue season.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026