What is pickerel weed?

A pickerel weed is a plant native to North America that is part of the genus Pontederia. Pickerel weeds have blue or purple flowers. The large leaves of a pickerel weed often have a distinctive arrow-shaped appearance. These weeds are considered freshwater plants and are most common in shallow waters.

The eastern part of the United States and much of Canada are home to the pickerel weed. It is a perennial plant that often expands its reach when it returns each spring. Some biologists believe that the pickerel weed is a prominent food source for pike and other freshwater fish.