pickerelweed

noun

pick·​er·​el·​weed ˈpi-k(ə-)rəl-ˌwēd 

: a shallow-water monocotyledonous perennial plant (Pontederia cordata) chiefly of the eastern U.S. and Canada with large leaves and a spike of purplish-blue flowers

Illustration of pickerelweed

Examples of pickerelweed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her latest obsession is the pickerelweed, a tall, salt-tolerant edible plant with broad green leaves and lavender flowers that is found throughout the city’s waterways. —Diana Budds, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2022

Part of the plan involves reintroducing native plant species that are more appropriate to the site than Phragmites: narrowleaf cattail, pickerelweed, black willow, blue iris, buttonbush and alder. —Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2021

Reaching 3 feet tall, pickerelweed grows happily — even rambunctiously — in containers or water gardens, so consider trying that. —Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 1 Oct. 2020

The rain darkened the way, which heightened colors, like the lavender of pickerelweed blossoms and brilliant yellow of spatterdock flowers. —Kevin Spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, 1 June 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pickerelweed

noun

pick·​er·​el·​weed -ˌwēd 

: a plant mostly of the eastern U.S. and Canada that grows in shallow water and has large arrow-shaped leaves and blue flowers