Pickerel Weed

A gorgeous water plant which can occasionally venture a few feet beyond the water's edge, Pickerel Weed will be familiar to most who have explored quiet, shallow lake waters in a kayak. Very showy spikes of purple flowers (June-October) rise above mounds of upright, glossy arrowhead-shaped leaves, eventually fading to drooping seed heads which drop their seeds directly into the water below. Tolerates perpetual mud, wet, mucky soil, and standing water up to 5" deep, but does not like to dry out. Attracts many species of pollinator, especially bumble bees, and the seeds may be eaten by many species of native duck. Dragonflies and damselflies tend to lay their eggs on this plant near the surface of the water, and the name "Pickerel Weed" comes from the excellent cover this species provides for fish, who tend to gather underneath the shade of the leaves (as do frogs). The very young leaves are apparently edible as salad greens, as are the seeds, which can supposedly be eaten straight off the plant or dried and added to granola (can't say I've tried either of these, but be sure to do your own research before giving it a go!). Usually an indicator of high-quality wetlands, and a very persistent bloomer, often forming large clonal colonies by rhizome.

1-3 foot tall
Plant Hardiness Zones: 2b-10b
Perennial

Native Range: ME south to FL, west to TX, and north to MN. Native to Canada in BC, ON, QC, NB, and NS. Rare in KY and KS.

Pickerel Weed in a 3.5 inch pot $18.75

* Note: Plants generally shipped as bare root bulbs in the fall

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