Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata) - Wildlife-Friendly Non-Native Marginal with Violet-Blue Spikes (Peat-Free, Pesticide-Free)

Bold violet-blue flower spikes rise above handsome heart- to spear-shaped leaves, giving clean vertical structure on the shallow shelf. Pontederia cordata (Pickerel Weed) is a clump-forming marginal from North America - not UK-native - but it behaves well in baskets and offers bee-friendly florets plus excellent emergence stems for dragonflies and damselflies. Expect roughly 60-120 cm in bloom (taller in rich sites) with a steady, manageable spread when contained. Best at the pond margin with 0-15(-20) cm of water above the soil, or in reliably damp ground just outside the liner. Use it as a summer focal point behind lower, native edgers.

Where it thrives

• Light: Full sun to light/partial shade (best flowering with good light)

• Moisture/Zone: Pond margin / shallow shelf; set crown at water level or with 0-15(-20) cm water above the soil

• Setting: Mid/back of the shelf for height and colour; great with Water Mint, Purple Loosestrife, sedges, and Myosotis in front. Fine for medium ponds; not for tiny barrels due to size.

Planting & care

• Plant in a mesh aquatic basket with peat-free aquatic compost; cap with washed grit to prevent float

• Deadhead or shear spent spikes to tidy; remove old leaves in late winter/early spring

• Divide every 2-3 years to refresh clumps and manage footprint

• Avoid fertilisers in wildlife ponds; let mixed planting + light shade balance nutrients

Safety (important & honest):
Grown for ornament/habitat. Do not ingest. Wash hands after pond work. Keep plant material and soil out of natural watercourses; never release garden plants into the wild.

Truth-first wildlife note:
While non-native, pickerel weed’s open florets are readily used by bees and hoverflies, and the upright stems provide top-tier emergence structure for aquatic insects. Keep a contained clump and surround with UK-native, single-flowered marginals to maximise overall ecological value.

Joel says…
“Pickerel weed brings that crisp, summery look - blue spikes, strong leaves, and proper wildlife perches. Basket it, keep it to a sensible clump, and let the natives fill in around it.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are ordering perennials between the months of October and March, including aquatic plants, please be aware that this is the dormant phase for perennials, so your plants may arrive showing potentially little or no top growth at this stage, or can in some cases still have some old leaves from last year showing also. Please don't worry, as this is all quite normal. Once the weather warms up in spring, you will start to see fresh growth and activity! If you ever have any concerns at all, please just message the team on enquiries@wildyourgarden.com and we'll always do our best to help.