Chinese Arrowhead
Sagittaria graminea
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Pl. 6C86 — Sagittaria graminea
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IOverview
Overview
Chinese Arrowhead, scientifically known as Sagittaria graminea, is a perennial plant found in wetlands across North America and Cuba. It thrives in full to partial sun with light, medium, or heavy soil, making it adaptable to various growing conditions. Native to states like Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, and parts of Canada such as Ontario and Québec, this plant is known for its edible qualities, with leaves, roots, and shoots being palatable. One distinctive feature of Chinese Arrowhead is its light green, arrow-shaped leaves that grow up to 0.5 meters tall, making it a notable addition to wetland ecosystems.
Quick answers
What is Chinese Arrowhead?
Chinese Arrowhead, scientifically known as Sagittaria graminea, is a perennial plant found in wetlands across North America and Cuba. It thrives in full to partial sun with light, medium, or heavy soil, making it adaptable to various growing conditions.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Chinese Arrowhead thrives in full to partial sun and requires wet soil, making it ideal for areas with consistent moisture. It prefers light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) soils. This plant is hardy in zones 5-9 and can be propagated through division or seed sowing. Annual or perennial, Chinese Arrowhead grows up to 0.5 meters tall and is edible, with leaves, roots, and shoots being the parts that can be consumed.
Light
Full sun, Partial sun/shade
Water
Wet, Water
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
5-9
Life cycle
Annual, Perennial
Mature size
0.5 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Chinese Arrowhead for the first time
8steps
Start with Chinese Arrowhead as an easy-to-grow perennial for beginners.
- 1
What you'll need
A container or garden bed, seeds or young plants, potting soil if planting in a container.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost or in early fall for best results.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Ensure the soil is light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay) with good drainage. For containers, use a mix of potting soil and perlite.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds in the garden after danger of frost has passed or start young plants indoors 4-6 weeks before planting.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep the soil consistently moist. Place in a location with full to partial sun, ensuring it receives at least 5 hours of sunlight daily.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water regularly, especially during dry spells. Fertilize lightly once or twice during the growing season. Monitor for pests and diseases.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune dead leaves to maintain a neat appearance and encourage new growth. Harvest young shoots, leaves, and roots as needed.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in poorly drained soil, neglecting to prune, and not providing enough sunlight.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesRootShoots
Edible uses: The Chinese Arrowhead is edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. Its leaves, shoots, and roots are all usable parts of the plant. Typically, the young shoots and leaves are harvested and either steamed or added to soups. The roots can also be boiled and consumed.
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
30 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
30 native · 0 introducedDistribution across2 continents· 30 native
Asia1 region
native (1)Georgia
Americas1 region
native (1)Cuba
Broader regions
native:Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward I., Masachusettes, Nebraska, Québec, Rhode I., South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Labrador, Louisiana
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
Explore further
Companion planting
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
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Back to the cataloguePlant id · 6c86fafb-ef32-4aef-9bee-0493c0b2e7eb
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