Duck Potato Sagittaria lancifolia subsp. media
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Duck Potato:
Previously known as:
- Sagittaria lancifolia var. media
- Phonetic Spelling
- saj-ee-TAR-ee-uh lan-sih-FOH-lee-uh MEED-ee-uh
- Description
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Lance-leaved Arrowood is a native perennial typically found in marshes and swamps along the coast from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas. It grows in both freshwater and brackish tidal marshes. The roots are rhizomes and need to be submerged in water.
The long lance-shaped leaves and distinctive 3-petaled flowers make this an attractive plant for water gardens. It should not be allowed to dry out.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sagittaria
- Species:
- lancifolia
- Family:
- Alismataceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Tubers were eaten by Native Americans
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Distribution:
- AL, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant. Waterfowl eat the tubers
- Edibility:
- Rhizomes are edible
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is small oval achenes and winged from August to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Separate male and female flowers. They grow in whorls of 3 in racemes and have 3 green sepals and 3 white petals, 1/4-1/2 inch long. The pistils on female flowers are flattened and form a tight, round green center. Male flowers have 6 yellow stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 3 feet long green leaves. Apex acuminate, base cuneate, venation parallel, glabrous
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Long thick spongy petioles
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
