FNPS Plant Database

Sagittaria latifolia

wapato, common arrowhead
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

wapato, common arrowhead

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Sagittaria latifolia

Family:

Alismataceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Flower

Size:

2–4 ft tall by 1–3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use in water gardens or as an emergent along pond edges.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Division.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Aquatic -to- Stays wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Attracts insect pollinators.

Birds are attracted to the fruits.

Native Habitats:

Marshes, wetter portions of wet prairies, swamps

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Tubers were used as a food by native Americans.

General Comments:

Is being replaced by S.lancifolia in Louisiana where there is salt water intrusion into wetlands. Apparently much less salt tolerant that S. Lancifolia.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Shannon B. Martin, & Shaffer, G. P. (2005). Sagittaria Biomass Partitioning Relative to Salinity, Hydrologic Regime, and Substrate Type: Implications for Plant Distribution Patterns in Coastal Louisiana, United States. Journal of Coastal Research, 21(1), 167–174. ( http://www.jstor.org/stable/4299399 ). Accessed 2026.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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