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Pickerel weed

(Pontederia cordata )

A non-native invasive plant.

This plant is extremely popular in water gardens where it is grown as a submerged or marginal plant in pools and ponds or as a bog plant. It is very widely available to buy.

Habitat

Aquatic habitats

What's the problem?

These large, vigorous plants grow up to 1m tall and often out-grow their space in garden pools and ponds. They are then sometimes discarded into the wild and have a similar effect, growing rapidly and choking natural aquatic environments.

It is likely some populations arise by deliberate planting in the wild – for example by anglers wanting to ‘improve’ fishing ponds (no doubt without realising the problems the plants may cause).

What are we doing about it?

Find out more about Plantlife's invasive plant programme by clicking here.