Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Wildlife Value
Supports the specialized bee - Florilegus (Florilegus) condignus. Laying site for the adult dragonfly.
Plant Profile: Pontederia cordata 'Alba'
Names
White Pickerel Weed
Phonetic Spelling:pon-te-DARE-ee-uh kor-DAY-tuh AL-ba
Genus:Pontederia
Species:cordata
Family:Pontederiaceae
White Pickerel Weed boasts an extended flowering season and thrives in water depths ranging from 0 to 10 inches. This aquatic plant plays a vital role in purifying water, making it a popular choice for enhancing water quality.
Dragonflies utilize this plant not only for laying their eggs but also for resting and perching. The larvae benefit from the stems, which they use to emerge from the water.
With its almost tropical-looking leaves, White Pickerel Weed offers both nourishment and refuge for various wildlife.
For additional details on Pontederia cordata, please refer to further resources.
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Feature Summary
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#wildlife plant
#nectar plant
#wet sites
#specialized bees
#frost tolerant
#odor
#pollinator plant
#wildflower garden
#bee friendly
Similar Plants
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Feature Summary
Attributes
Supports the specialized bee - Florilegus (Florilegus) condignus. Laying site for the adult dragonfly.
Perennial
Flowers
Spike of white ephemeral flowers. Strong odor.
White
Summer
Fall
3-6 inches
Leaves
Glossy, heart-shaped leaves with swirled markings., indented at the base and tapers to a point.
Green
Gray/Silver
> 6 inches
Glossy
Smooth
Stem
Can reach 2' in height.
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Frequent Standing Water
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Water Garden
Specimen
Pollinators
Specialized Bees
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Image Gallery
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Attributes
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Flowers
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Flower Description
Spike of white ephemeral flowers. Strong odor.
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Flower Color
White
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Leaves
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Leaf Description
Glossy, heart-shaped leaves with swirled markings., indented at the base and tapers to a point.
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Leaf Color
Gray/Silver
Green
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Hairs Present
No
Yes
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Stem
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Stem Description
Can reach 2' in height.
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Whole Plant Traits
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Cultural Conditions
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Pontederia cordata 'Alba' Landscape
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Pontederia cordata 'Alba': Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
