Pickerelweed

Description:

Aquatic plant that grows in colonies in shallow-slow moving water. The flower stalk reaches up to 3 ft. A dense spike of blue showy flowers tops the stalks. Several long stalked leaves emerge from the base of the flower stalk.

Habitat:

Located in a pond at the Heritage Elementary School, Texas Our Heritage Garden, representing the ten eco regions of Texas.

Notes:

According to Elias and Dykeman (1982) report that tender young leaves, as they begin to unfurl in the spring, are edible raw in salads or cooked as a vegetable. Boil the leaves for about 10 min. The seeds, available in the summer and fall, also can be eaten raw, roasted, or ground into flour. Use plant only when it is growing in clean water.