Blue Mud-plantain
Heteranthera limosa
Last reviewed: August 2026
Blue mud-plantain is a low-growing wetland forb that flowers from May through September, producing small blue blooms in shallow water and muddy pond edges.
Toxicity unknown
Blue Mud-plantain (Heteranthera limosa) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
4"–12" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, CA and 16 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Blue mud-plantain is a low-growing aquatic perennial that thrives in wet conditions and produces small blue flowers from late spring through fall. This native plant forms compact clumps and requires consistently moist to wet soil, making it ideal for water gardens, pond edges, or areas with poor drainage.
Growing Blue Mud-plantain
Grow Blue Mud-plantain in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 4 to 12 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Blue Mud-plantain takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Requires specialized wet conditions that may appear problematic
- Low growth habit may look unkempt in formal settings
- Aquatic nature makes it unsuitable for typical landscaping
Wildlife value
While specific pollinator data is limited, the small blue flowers likely attract native bees and other small pollinators during its extended blooming period.
Common questions
- When does blue mud-plantain bloom?
- Blue mud-plantain typically flowers from May through September, with small blue to violet blooms opening along muddy shorelines and shallow water.
- What growing conditions does blue mud-plantain need?
- It grows best in full sun with consistently wet to saturated soil, such as pond margins, ditches, marshes, and rice field edges.
- Is blue mud-plantain a good pollinator plant?
- There is no well-documented pollinator relationship for this species in standard references, so no specific pollinators are listed.
- Does blue mud-plantain stay green year round?
- No, it is an herbaceous annual that dies back after its growing season rather than persisting as evergreen foliage.
- Is Blue Mud-plantain HOA-friendly?
- Blue Mud-plantain takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Blue Mud-plantain? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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