Pontederia cordata
pickerel weed
This handsome aquatic perennial is perfect as a marginal plant for a sunny pond. It has large, lustrous leaves and in late summer closely packed blue flowerspikes. A valuable addition to shallow water, it will provide colour and interest long after many of the other aquatics have finished flowering. Pontederia cordata is best grown in aquatic planting baskets filled with fertile, loamy soil in 10-12cm of water.
How to care for Pontederia cordata:
For wet or boggy soil conditions, choose our 9cm pot option and plant into deep, consistently moist ground at the edge of a bog garden or damp border. Enrich the soil with compost and keep it wet at all times, especially in summer, as the plant thrives in saturated conditions.
For shallow pond margins, pick our aquatic planting basket option which uses a loam-based aquatic compost. After planting, add a 2.5cm (1in) layer of pea shingle or gravel on top to stop soil dispersing into the water. Position the basket so the crown sits just above the waterline or with no more than a few centimetres of water over the soil.
Water marginal plants regularly until well rooted, and keep pond-grown plants topped up to maintain a stable water level. Remove spent flower spikes and old foliage to keep the plant tidy, and divide established clumps every few years in spring to maintain vigour.
For shallow pond margins, pick our aquatic planting basket option which uses a loam-based aquatic compost. After planting, add a 2.5cm (1in) layer of pea shingle or gravel on top to stop soil dispersing into the water. Position the basket so the crown sits just above the waterline or with no more than a few centimetres of water over the soil.
Water marginal plants regularly until well rooted, and keep pond-grown plants topped up to maintain a stable water level. Remove spent flower spikes and old foliage to keep the plant tidy, and divide established clumps every few years in spring to maintain vigour.
Eventual height:
1.2m
Eventual spread:
0.6m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Reliably damp or boggy
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
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This pond plant dies right back in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
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CAUTION toxic if eaten/skin & eye irritant
9cm pot
£12.99
shipped within 2 weeks
3 × 9cm pots
£35.00
£11.67 each
shipped within 2 weeks
1 litre aquatic pot
£21.99
available to order from summer
Unavailable
3 × 1 litre aquatic pots
£39.99
£13.33 each
available to order from summer
Unavailable
3 litre aquatic pot
£34.99
available to order from summer
Unavailable
5 litre aquatic pot
£47.99
available to order from summer
Unavailable
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