Explore Plants
Native Plant Database
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Bengston, Bennie
Sagittaria latifolia Willd.
Arrowhead, Broadleaf arrowhead, Duck-potato, Wapato
Alismataceae (Water-Plantain Family)
USDA Symbol: SALA2
USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.
Duck-potato or arrowhead is a colony-forming, aquatic perennial, rising above water level to a height of 3 ft. The long-petioled, emergent leaves are arrowhead shaped. Flowers have showy, white petals and are arranged in a whorled raceme. Arrow-shaped basal leaves surround a taller stalk with small white flowers in whorls of three at ends of short, whorled branches. Sap milky. This aquatic is closely related to Water Plantain. In mud, rhizomes produce starchy tubers, utilized by ducks and muskrats and known as duck potatoes. The plant was once an important source of food for Native Americans, and Wapato is one of the names they gave it. The genus name comes from sagitta, Latin for arrow, referring to the shape of the leaves of some species.
Members of the Water-Plantain Family grow in water, in swamps, on muddy banks, or occasionally in wet sand. Each plant has long-petioled leaves in a clump with a flowering stem rising among them. The flowers have 3 green sepals, 3 white or pink-tinged petals, 6 or more stamens, and several pistils. Stamens and pistils may be in separate flowers.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Size Class: 1-3 ft.
Fruit Type: Achene
Leaf Color: Green
Fruit Color: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AL , AZ , AR , CA , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , HI , ID , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , MT , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , VA , WA , WV , WI , WY , DCCanada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE
Native Distribution: S. Canada, s. through N. America; common in c. & e. U.S. & on the Pacific coast; scattered in w. interior
Native Habitat: Still water, Marshes
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(I), PR(N), CAN(N)
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Aquatic: yes
Soil Description: Mud, Shallow water or fully saturated soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Water garden, Bog or pond areaUse Wildlife: Arrowheads underground tubers are preferred by at least fifteen species of ducks and by snapping turtles.
Use Food: Beneath the muck, rhizomes produce edible starchy tubers, utilized by ducks and muskrats and known as duck potatoes. First Nations are said to have opened muskrat houses to get at their cache of roots. (Niering)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds
Propagation
Propagation Material: Root DivisionDescription: Propagation by seed is possible.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
From the National Suppliers Directory
According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Native Plant Nursery - Sanibel, FL
Sunshine Farm & Gardens - Renick, WV
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Bibliography
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski* Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, G.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Additional resources
USDA: Find Sagittaria latifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Sagittaria latifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sagittaria latifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2007-01-01Research By: TWC Staff