Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)
Pickerelweed Family (Pontederiaceae)

Habitat:

This plant grows in lakes, ponds, and quiet streams near the shoreline. Its flower clusters usually grow to about one foot above the water's surface.

Leaves:

Smooth, dark green, arrow-shaped. They grow above the surface of the water.

Flowers:

Purple, about an inch across, with a yellow spot on one petal. The flowers grow in clusters along the rubbery stem.

Helpful Tips:

Pickerelweed is native to Maine, with its range spreading from New Brunswick south to Florida and as far west as Minnesota. For more information, see Audubon Wildflower or Flora of Maine. For information about invasive aquatic plants, see the Maine Center for Invasive Aquatic Plants website.