Pontederia cordata, commonly known as pickerelweed, is a vigorous aquatic perennial native to wetlands, marshes, and slow-moving waterways across eastern North America. It forms dense clumps of glossy, heart-shaped leaves held on sturdy stalks that can reach 2–4 feet in height, creating an attractive, upright architectural presence at the water’s edge. Throughout the warm months, it produces striking spikes of violet-blue, tubular flowers that rise above the foliage and attract a wide array of pollinators, especially bees. Well adapted to shallow water, Pontederia cordata thrives in full sun and saturated soils, where its extensive rhizome system helps stabilize shorelines and improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients. Its combination of ornamental appeal, ecological value, and ease of growth makes it a popular choice for ponds, naturalistic water gardens, and habitat restoration projects.