Bulltongue Arrowhead
Sagittaria lancifolia
Last reviewed: August 2026
Sagittaria lancifolia, or Bulltongue Arrowhead, is a wetland forb that blooms with white flower spikes from June through November in marshes, ditches, and shallow pond margins across the Gulf Coast and Southeast.
Toxicity unknown
Bulltongue Arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia) 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
36"–72" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AL, FL, GA, LA and 6 more states
Before you buy
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Bulltongue Arrowhead is a tall aquatic perennial with distinctive arrow-shaped leaves and white flowers that bloom from summer through fall. This native wetland plant requires consistently moist to wet soil and full sun to thrive. It goes dormant in winter, dying back to the ground before returning in spring.
Growing Bulltongue Arrowhead
Grow Bulltongue Arrowhead in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 36 to 72 inches tall and spread 24 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Bulltongue Arrowhead takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Height exceeds typical HOA-friendly range
Wildlife value
The white flowers attract various pollinators including bees and butterflies during its extended bloom period. Waterfowl and other wildlife may use the seeds as a food source.
Common questions
- What kind of habitat does Bulltongue Arrowhead prefer?
- Sagittaria lancifolia grows in shallow standing water and saturated soils, such as marshes, roadside ditches, and pond or lake margins, where moisture stays consistently high.
- When does Bulltongue Arrowhead bloom?
- It sends up spikes of white flowers from June through November, with the heaviest flowering during the warmer summer months.
- How much sunlight does this plant need?
- It grows best in full sun and can tolerate some shade, but flowering is usually fullest where light exposure is high and soil stays wet.
- Does Bulltongue Arrowhead need to stand in water?
- It does well in shallow standing water or consistently saturated soil and does not tolerate dry conditions for long.
- Is Bulltongue Arrowhead HOA-friendly?
- Bulltongue Arrowhead 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 Bulltongue Arrowhead? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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