What conditions does duck-potato need to grow well?

Duck-potato grows best in full sun with consistently wet soil or standing shallow water, such as pond edges, ditches, and marshes.

When does Sagittaria latifolia bloom?

It typically flowers from July into September, producing small white blooms on tall stalks above its arrowhead-shaped leaves.

What pollinators visit duck-potato flowers?

Bees, beetles, and flies are the main visitors to duck-potato flowers during its summer bloom period.

Can duck-potato be grown in a home water garden?

Yes, it works well in containers or shallow pond margins kept saturated or slightly flooded, since it depends on wet soil or standing water to thrive.

Is Duck-potato toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Duck-potato as toxic to livestock.

Is Duck-potato HOA-friendly?

Duck-potato takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Duck-potato

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Sagittaria latifolia

Last reviewed: August 2026

Duck-potato is a wetland forb that grows in shallow water and mucky soil, blooming with white flowers from July through September and drawing bees, beetles, and flies.

Toxicity unknown

Duck-potato (Sagittaria latifolia) 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.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Duck-potato as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

high

Size

12"–60" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, CA, CO and 36 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles, flies

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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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Duck-potato is an aquatic perennial with distinctive arrow-shaped leaves and tall spikes of white three-petaled flowers in summer. This wetland plant requires consistently wet or flooded conditions and is best suited for pond edges, rain gardens, or wet swales.

Growing Duck-potato

Grow Duck-potato in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 60 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Duck-potato 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.

Requires wet conditions unsuitable for typical landscaping
Can appear wild and unstructured
Limited to specialized aquatic applications

Wildlife value

The summer blooms attract bees, beetles, and flies for pollination. Waterfowl and other wildlife also utilize this plant for food and habitat in aquatic settings.

Common questions

What conditions does duck-potato need to grow well?: Duck-potato grows best in full sun with consistently wet soil or standing shallow water, such as pond edges, ditches, and marshes.
When does Sagittaria latifolia bloom?: It typically flowers from July into September, producing small white blooms on tall stalks above its arrowhead-shaped leaves.
What pollinators visit duck-potato flowers?: Bees, beetles, and flies are the main visitors to duck-potato flowers during its summer bloom period.
Can duck-potato be grown in a home water garden?: Yes, it works well in containers or shallow pond margins kept saturated or slightly flooded, since it depends on wet soil or standing water to thrive.
Is Duck-potato toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Duck-potato as toxic to livestock.
Is Duck-potato HOA-friendly?: Duck-potato 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.

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