Duck potato
Sagittaria latifolia · Alismataceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant duck potato: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Arrowhead, Duck Potato
- Family
- Alismataceae
- Type
- Perennial aquatic plant
- Foliage
- Deciduous (disappears in winter)
- Flowering
- July to September, white or pink flowers
- Adult size
- 60 to 90 cm in height
- Hardiness
- Hardy (down to -15 °C)
- Origin
- North America
Care
Water Immersion
Arrowhead is an aquatic plant: it must be permanently submerged in water at a depth of 15 to 40 cm. Install it in a basket or pot with drainage holes at the bottom of a pond or water feature. In winter, in cold climates, it can survive dormancy if the root ball remains submerged.
Light and Location
Choose a sunny to partially shaded spot (minimum 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight). The more abundant the light, the better the flowering. Avoid overly shaded areas where the plant becomes weak and stunted.
Substrate and Bottom
Use rich, muddy soil or a specific aquatic plant mix. Arrowhead thrives on a natural muddy or clayey bottom. Enrich the substrate with well-decomposed compost or aquatic fertilizer tablets in spring.
Feeding
Apply a balanced aquatic plant fertilizer in spring and early summer to support growth and flowering. Immersed tablets or sticks are convenient. Moderate application to prevent excessive algae development.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Remove dead or damaged leaves as needed. In autumn, you can cut back the stems before dormancy. Limit spread in containers if necessary to prevent pond overcrowding.
Pests and Common Issues
Arrowhead is generally robust. Watch for aphids and scale insects if growing in a greenhouse. Excess organic matter can encourage filamentous algae: maintain good water circulation.
Did you know?
Arrowhead gets its scientific name from the Latin 'sagittarius' meaning 'archer', because its emergent leaves resemble arrowheads. This plant was once cultivated by Native Americans, who harvested its starchy tubers as a winter food source.
Where to buy it
Best planted in spring or autumn, away from frost and heatwaves. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September, October.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Water plantainAlisma plantago-aquatica
- Alisma lanceolatumAlisma lanceolatum
- Baldellia ranunculoidesBaldellia ranunculoides
- Floating water-plantainLuronium natans
- Bulltongue arrowheadSagittaria lancifolia
- Alisma gramineumAlisma gramineum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.