PickerelweedPontederia cordata
An emergent plant, Pickerelweed grows best from shallow water or muddy soil. Its vivid violet flowers offer a stunning alternative to the invasive Purple Loosestrife. A nonpersistent, emergent, native, herbaceous perennial that is found in shallow water or saturated substrates to a height of 40". Has been used in restorations of back waters, slow-moving streams and lake shores.
USDA symbol: POCO14
General Information
| Plant Type | Forb |
|---|---|
| Height | 4 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Wet |
| Bloom Color | Purple |

Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | High |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 5 |
| Salt Tolerance | Low |
Pollinator Value: Very High
| Bloom Months | June to September |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Bees |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Dufourea novaeangliae, Melissodes apicatus |
| Pollinator Benefit | Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Rain Garden, Restoration |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 5 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Medium |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Shallow |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Clonal |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Chisago, Crow Wing, Hennepin, Houston, Kandiyohi, Lake, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey, St. Louis, Stearns, Wabasha, Washington, Winona, Wright |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland |