How much sun does Giant Arrowhead need?

Giant Arrowhead grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Giant Arrowhead bloom?

Giant Arrowhead blooms in July, August, and September.

What pollinators does Giant Arrowhead attract?

Giant Arrowhead draws bees and flies.

Is Giant Arrowhead HOA-friendly?

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

Giant Arrowhead

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Sagittaria montevidensis

Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown

Giant Arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis) 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

24"–60" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Pollinators

bees, flies

Native alternatives to Giant Arrowhead

Giant Arrowhead is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.

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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Giant arrowhead is a tall aquatic perennial with distinctive arrow-shaped leaves and white flowers that bloom from July through September. This water-loving plant thrives in consistently wet soils or shallow water features and can reach up to 5 feet in height.

In an HOA neighborhood

Giant Arrowhead takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires specialized wet conditions inappropriate for typical landscaping
Large size and aquatic nature appear unmanaged in standard yards
Limited to pond edges or rain gardens which many HOAs restrict

Wildlife value

The summer blooms attract bees and flies for pollination. As an aquatic plant, it also provides habitat for water-dwelling insects and can support waterfowl in appropriate settings.

Common questions

How much sun does Giant Arrowhead need?: Giant Arrowhead grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Giant Arrowhead bloom?: Giant Arrowhead blooms in July, August, and September.
What pollinators does Giant Arrowhead attract?: Giant Arrowhead draws bees and flies.
Is Giant Arrowhead HOA-friendly?: Giant Arrowhead takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

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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