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Sagittaria latifolia - Willd.

Common Name Duck Potato, Broadleaf Arrowhead
Family Alismataceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Ditches, ponds, lakes and swampy areas in most parts of N. America[60].
Range N. America - all areas except the far north. Naturalized in various parts of Europe[50].
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Wet Soil Water Plants Full sun
Sagittaria latifolia Duck Potato, Broadleaf Arrowhead


https://edibleplants.org/
Sagittaria latifolia Duck Potato, Broadleaf Arrowhead
https://edibleplants.org/

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Sagittaria latifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Sagitta latifolia (Willd.) Nieuwl. Sagittaria esculenta Howell. Sagittaria gigantea Riddell [Illegitimate]. Sagittaria gracilis Pursh. Sagittaria hastata Pursh. Sagittaria longirostra (Micheli) J.G.Sm. Sagittaria obtusa Muhl. ex Willd. [Illegitimate]. Sagittaria ornithorhyncha Small. Sagittaria planipes Fernald. Sagittaria pubescens Muhl. Sagittaria simplex Pursh. Sagittaria variabilis Engelm.Sagittaria viscosa C.Mohr

Habitats

 Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked[62, 105]. Excellent when roasted, the texture is somewhat like potatoes with a taste like sweet chestnuts[85, 92, 94, 159, 256]. The tubers can be eaten raw but they are rather bitter (especially the skin)[85, 102, 159]. It is best to remove this skin after the tubers have been cooked[183]. The tubers can also be dried and ground into a powder, this powder can be used as a gruel or mixed with cereal flours and used to make bread[85, 94]. The N. American Indians would slice the boiled roots into thin sections and then string them on ropes to dry in much the same way as apples[183].The egg-shaped tubers are 4 - 5cm long and are borne on the ends of slender roots, often 30cm deep in the soil and some distance from the parent plant[85, 92, 94]. The tubers are best harvested in the late summer as the leaves die down[92, 95]. They cannot be harvested by pulling out the plant since the tops break off easily, leaving the tubers in the ground[213].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Digestive  Poultice

A poultice of the leaves has been used to stop milk production[222]. A tea made from the roots is used as a digestive[222, 257]. A poultice of the roots is used in the treatment of wounds and sores[222, 257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A pond or bog garden plant, it requires a moist or wet loamy soil in a sunny position[1]. Prefers shallow, still or slowly flowing water up to 12cm deep[1, 56]. Hardy to at least -20°c[187]. A polymorphic species[92].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in about 5cm of water. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and gradually increase the depth of water as the plants grow until it is about 5cm above the top of the pot. Plant out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Division of the tubers in spring or autumn. Easy. Runners potted up at any time in the growing season.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Sagittaria aginashi Perennial0.0 -  LMHNWeWa10 
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Sagittaria chapmaniiChapman's arrowheadPerennial0.5 -  LMHNWeWa00 
Sagittaria cuneataWapato, arumleaf arrowheadPerennial0.8 5-9  LMHNWeWa41 
Sagittaria gramineaChinese Arrowhead, Grassy Arrowhead, Weatherby's arrowheadAnnual/Perennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNWeWa100
Sagittaria rigidaSessile-Fruited ArrowheadPerennial0.8 6-9  LMHNWeWa30 
Sagittaria sagittifoliaArrow Head, Hawaii arrowheadPerennial1.0 6-9  LMHNWeWa510
Sagittaria sagittifolia leucopetala Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNWeWa31 
Sagittaria trifoliaChinese Arrowroot, Threeleaf arrowheadPerennial1.0 10-12  LMHSNWeWa420

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Willd.

Botanical References

60200274

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Terry Spurgeon   Thu Nov 23 2006

Sagittaria latifolia is quite common along the Fraser River in the Fraser Valley region of Southwestern British columbia, especially in the environs of the Pitt River. It certainly can't be called rare in British Columbia.

Simon Fraser University Library MA Thesis - Terrence Spurgeon - about Wapato

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