Batten Blooms
PL. —Sagittaria trifoliaBotanical illustration — drop image
Sagittaria trifolia

Threeleaf Arrowhead

SpringSummerFallInvasive
5a–10aHardiness zone
Peak bloom windowZone 6b · frost-offset weeks
Winter
Not in bloom
Spring
Peak bloom
Summer
In bloom
Fall
Not in bloom
Peak bloom
In bloom
Background

Sagittaria trifolia is an aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial native to rice paddies, marshes, and shallow waterways across Asia and parts of Europe. It produces bold, arrow-shaped leaves on upright stalks rising from shallow water or saturated soil, with small white three-petaled flowers in summer. In Western water gardens it functions as a structural foliage plant; across East Asia it has been cultivated for centuries as a food crop.

The plant spreads by stolons and produces starchy underground corms that are harvested after foliage dies back in fall. It performs best in standing water 2–12 inches deep or in permanently saturated, fertile soil. Full sun drives the strongest growth and highest corm yield. In zones 7 and warmer the corms can overwinter in place; in colder zones they survive submerged in the mud and resprout in spring. Growth can be aggressive in warm climates, and planting in submerged containers is the most reliable way to limit unwanted spread.

The corms, called ji gū in Chinese, are an established vegetable crop in Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces. Starchy and mildly bitter, they are commonly braised with pork, sliced into stir-fries, or added to soups. Traditional Chinese medicine has used the plant as a diuretic and for coughs and fever.

Good companions
Broadleaf ArrowheadHorsetailCardinal FlowerSoft Rush
Care guide
SunFull sun
WaterMoist to wet
SoilWet, loamy, rich
Spacing12–18 in
Height18–36 in
Zone5a – 10a
Frost hardyInvasive
Seasonal tasks
spring
watchCheck emerging leaf stalks for aphid colonies; dislodge with a strong stream of water.
sowPlant corms in pots of loamy soil and submerge in the pond or water feature in 2–6 inches of water after the last frost date.
summer
watchInspect leaves for fungal spotting during warm, humid periods; remove affected foliage promptly to slow spread.
cutRemove seed stems after they finish to redirect plant energy into corm development.
watchMonitor stolon spread along pond margins; reposition container plants or install aquatic root barriers to prevent invasive expansion.
fall
cutAfter first frost blackens foliage, cut stems to the water surface and harvest corms by digging into the mud or container mix.
Common problems

Fungal leaf spot

Symptoms

Brown or purplish spots on the leaves, often ringed with a yellow halo, that spread and merge in warm, humid, or wet weather; heavily spotted leaves yellow and drop early.

Treatment

Pick off spotted leaves and clear fallen debris to remove overwintering spores. Improve air circulation by thinning, and water at the base so foliage dries quickly. If it persists, apply a copper- or sulfur-based fungicide at the first sign.

Crown Rot

Symptoms

Lower leaves yellow and wilt; the base of the rosette turns brown and soft, sometimes with white fungal threads at the soil line. Plants collapse in wet conditions.

Treatment

Remove and destroy affected plants. Improve drainage and avoid overhead watering. Do not mulch directly against the crown. Space plants for airflow and avoid replanting in the same wet spot.