Scythefruit Arrowhead Sagittaria lancifolia

The Bulltongue Arrowhead is a vigorous, aquatic, herbaceous perennial in the water plantain family and noted for the basal leaves that rise 3 to 6 feet from watery beds, its 10 inch long arrowhead-shaped leave blades, and showy, 3-petaled white flowers. It is a wetlands plant, common in fresh or brackish tidal marshes and muddy stream edges. Native to sloughs, swamps, marshes and margins of streams and ponds of southeastern United States, it grows well in the North Carolina's coastal plain. The genus name comes from the Latin sagitta, meaning arrow referencing the shape of the leaves.

Bulltongue Arrowhead grows in water and does best in full sun, which encourages blossoms. Members of the Water-Plantain Family grow in water, in swamps, on muddy banks, or occasionally in wet sand. It is a reliable perennial used for water gardens and should be planted no deeper than 12 inches in a water garden.

Large, edible, starchy tubers form at the ends of underground plant runners (rhizomes). When dislodged from the mud, these tubers will float to the surface. The tubers can be boiled or baked and eaten as a potato-like food. Seeds are attractive to many water birds.

Use as a water feature in sun to partial shade. It attracts birds. Arrowhead is commonly used in pond restorations. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on creating a "floating wetland" with aquatic plants

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known insect or disease problems. Watch for spider mites and aphids.