Arrowhead
Sagittaria, family Alismataceae
Aquatic plants with arrow-shaped leaves and edible tubers
Arrowhead is a group of aquatic plants found in wetlands across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Their arrow-shaped leaves and clusters of white, three-petaled flowers stand above the water, while their starchy tubers have long served as food for people in many cultures.
- Arrowhead plants have edible tubers known as duck potatoes or wapato.
- The leaves are shaped like arrows and stand above the water.
- Clusters of three-petaled white flowers bloom in summer.
- Grows wild in wetlands across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- Tubers have been a staple food for many cultures.
What does Arrowhead look like?
Arrowhead plants grow in shallow water or muddy ground. Their leaves are shaped like arrowheads, rising from creeping, horizontal roots. The plants reach about 1 to 3 feet tall. In summer, they send up stems topped with small clusters of white flowers, each with three petals. Underwater, the plant forms tubers—rounded, starchy storage organs that look a bit like small potatoes.
Where does Arrowhead come from?
Sagittaria includes about 30 species, most of which are native to the Americas, but some also grow in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The name comes from the Latin for 'arrow', a nod to the pointed shape of many leaves. These plants have long been part of wetland landscapes, spreading naturally along rivers, lakes, and marshes. Over time, people have moved some species to new places, and a few have become naturalized outside their original range.
When and how Arrowhead blooms
Arrowhead plants bloom from July to September. They thrive in muddy or shallow water, sending up leaves and flowers above the surface. The tubers form in the mud and can be gathered by hand or by stirring the soil so they float up. They are easy to grow by replanting the tubers in wet ground.
How Arrowhead is used
People have eaten arrowhead tubers for thousands of years, especially in North America and Asia. The tubers can be cooked by boiling or roasting, and are less bitter when cooked. They are a source of starch, especially valued in winter. Some cultures harvest them in late fall or early spring. The plant is also grown in China for food.
Kinds of Arrowhead
There are many species of Sagittaria, such as S. latifolia, common in North America, and S. trifolia, widespread in Asia. Some have broader leaves, while others are more slender or have different flower shapes. The tuber size and shape also vary between species.
What Arrowhead means
Arrowhead has been an important food for Indigenous peoples in North America, with various names in different languages. It appears in traditional stories and was noted by early explorers as a survival food. The plant's arrow-shaped leaves gave rise to its Latin name and inspired the name of a character in modern fiction.
Questions people ask about Arrowhead
Where does arrowhead come from?
Most arrowhead species are native to the Americas, but some are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They grow naturally in wetlands, along rivers, lakes, and marshes.
What does the arrowhead plant look like?
Arrowhead plants have arrow-shaped leaves that rise above the water and clusters of small white flowers with three petals. The plant also forms starchy tubers in the mud.
How are arrowhead tubers used?
The tubers are eaten as a source of starch. They can be boiled or roasted and have been a food staple for many Indigenous peoples and in China.
What does arrowhead symbolize or mean in culture?
Arrowhead is important in Indigenous North American cultures as a food plant and appears in traditional stories. Its leaf shape inspired its Latin name and the name of a character in popular fiction.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Sagittaria", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.