Peltandra sagittifolia aka White Arrow Arum

Peltandra sagittifolia belongs to the arum family, Araceae. This wetland plant lives for more than one year. People call it spoonflower or white arrow arum. It comes from the southeast of the United States. Its range spans Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. It also grows in both Carolinas. In North Carolina, it grows on the Coastal Plain. The state lists it as significantly rare. That local rank does not tell us its status worldwide.

This plant has soft stems and grows in fresh water. Parts of it grow above the water's surface. It lives in swamps and shallow water beside ponds. Records place it in swamps outside areas of river flood deposits. These sites often have acid soil. Its leaves have no hairs, and its stems have no scent. The sources give no size for a full-grown plant. They say little about leaf shape or the plant's form. These gaps leave parts of its looks unclear.

It bears white flowers from June through August. The blooms form a cluster called a spadix. Red to burgundy fruit comes next. The fruit display lasts from August through September. Flowers and fruit add interest from summer into early autumn. North Carolina State lists it as a plant that draws songbirds. Its pond home and native range suit water gardens. They also suit gardens of native plants. Freshwater sites near the coast suit it, too.

Grow it in wet soil or shallow water. Plants For A Future calls for soil rich in humus, with no lime. Choose a sunny spot by still or slow-moving water. The source also says to grow it in clumps. It lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. Grow it from seed, or split plants in spring. Sow ripe seed in late summer. Keep the pots standing in water. Keep young plants in a greenhouse through their first winter. Plant them out after the last frost you expect.

Treat this plant as toxic, not as an everyday food crop. Plants For A Future reports that it contains calcium oxalate. This can irritate the mouth and gut. The source lists roots and fruit as edible, but gives warnings. It says to cook roots well before use. This does not show that home preparation makes them safe to eat. The root holds much starch. The source lists no known uses as medicine. It lists no other practical uses, either. It also reports no weed potential.