PondScape
Blue Pickerel Hardy Marginal Plant
Best hardy perennial for adding continuous color to pond edges.
The Blue Pickerel, scientifically known as Pontederia cordata, is a hardy perennial marginal plant perfect for outdoor ponds. It features glossy, green, heart-shaped leaves that provide excellent texture in the water garden. This plant is celebrated for its continuous bloom, producing attractive spikes of lovely purple flowers throughout its growing season. Native to North America, it thrives as a marginal aquatic, reaching heights up to 30 inches. It is also noted for being a good cut flower option. Available potted in 2-inch or 4-inch sizes, this plant offers reliable color and structure for any water feature.
$8.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
408
/ 955
#408 in Aquatic Plants
Price vs Category Average
-52%
Below average
Scientific Name
Pontederia cordata
/ Pontederia cordata
Who it's for
- Busy homeowners wanting low-maintenance, perennial pond greenery
- Gardeners seeking late-season color for their water features
- Eco-conscious pond owners looking to support local pollinators
Who should skip it
- Owners of small ponds worried about invasive root growth
- Pond keepers with uneven or steeply sloped water edges
- Impatient gardeners wanting lush foliage early in the spring
Performance breakdown
Bloom consistency
Reliable purple spikes provide color throughout the entire growing season.
Hardiness range
Thrives across a wide variety of climates from zones 5-11.
Visual texture
Glossy heart-shaped leaves add sophisticated structure to any pond edge.
Maintenance ease
A low-effort perennial that establishes quickly in marginal aquatic environments.
Floral versatility
Unique ability to transition from pond feature to indoor cut flower.
Growth potential
Reaches a substantial thirty-inch height for impactful vertical pond interest.
Key Specs
Scientific Name
Pontederia cordata
Type
Hardy marginal plant
Hardiness Zone
5-11
Mature Height
Up to 30 inches
Flower Color
Purple
Leaf Color
Green
Available Pot Sizes
2" Pot, 4" Pot
Features
- Produces continuous purple flower spikes
- Features glossy, heart-shaped green leaves
- Hardy perennial suitable for pond margins
- Excellent as a cut flower
- Native to North America
What customers say
Customers consistently highlight the exceptional quality of the Blue Pickerel plant upon arrival. Reviewers frequently mention the robust health and careful packaging, ensuring the plant survives transit beautifully. The plant's reliability is a major theme; it establishes quickly in pond margins, often blooming sooner than expected. This ease of use makes it a favorite for both novice and experienced water gardeners seeking vibrant, low maintenance aquatic flora.
Know before you buy
As a marginal plant, the Blue Pickerel thrives when placed in shallow water. It is best positioned on a pond shelf where the water depth is between 1 and 6 inches above the top of the pot.
Yes, the Blue Pickerel is a hardy perennial suitable for zones 5 through 11. In colder climates, it will go dormant during the winter and return with new growth once the water warms in the spring.
For the best results and continuous purple flower spikes, this plant prefers full sun to partial shade. Providing at least 6 hours of direct sunlight will help ensure the most vibrant and frequent blooms.
Absolutely. The flower spikes are quite attractive and hold up well, making them a unique and beautiful addition to indoor floral arrangements.
You can expect the Blue Pickerel to reach a mature height of up to 30 inches. Its upright growth habit and heart-shaped leaves provide excellent vertical structure for the edges of your water feature.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$9