Peltandra Virginica
Peltandra virginica (L.) Schott
Peltandra virginica, the Green Arrow Arum or Tuckahoe, is a bold and architecturally striking native North American aquatic perennial with dramatic arrow-shaped leaves and elegant arum-type inflorescences. A vital part of eastern North American wetland ecosystems and an ancient staple food of the Powhatan people, it symbolizes resilience, ecological sustenance, and the enduring wisdom of native landscapes.
Araceae (Arum family)
Late spring to early summer (May to July); blooming period lasts approximately 2 to 3 weeks per plant; near year-round in warmer Florida climates
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Similar flowers: anemopsiss and anemopsiss also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
Peltandra virginica carries within it one of the oldest documented relationships between a North American plant and its human community. The name Tuckahoe derives from the Algonquin word for the plant, and its starchy rhizomes were described as a primary staple food of the Powhatan Confederacy of Virginia as early as 1611, in the very first written description of the plant by a European, William Strachey. Captain John Smith also noted the plant in his accounts of Powhatan society. The Powhatan's sophisticated knowledge of how to detoxify the raw roots through processing reflects thousands of years of ecological wisdom, a relationship between people and plant that made this unassuming wetland perennial a cornerstone of survival in the wetlands of the mid-Atlantic coast. Today, Peltandra virginica is recognized as one of the most ecologically important emergent aquatic plants in eastern North America, providing food and habitat for wood ducks, rails, muskrats, snakes, frogs, and dozens of other species. Its genus name comes from the Greek pelte (small shield) and aner (stamen), referring to the distinctive shield-like shape of the stamens visible within the spathe.Shop Our Floral Collection
Transform your space with our curated selection of designer floral throw pillows
Visit Full StoreBotanical Information
Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade; performs well and spreads steadily in a wide range of light conditions; most vigorous in full sun with consistently shallow water
Water
Obligate wetland plant; requires permanently moist to shallow-water conditions; grow with roots in water or permanently saturated soil; tolerates water to 25 cm (10 inches) above the crown; rhizomes can survive freezing in the pond over winter
Soil
Wetland soil, Saturated clay or muck, Permanently moist to waterlogged; rhizomes are highly tolerant of low-oxygen waterlogged conditions, Plant in aquatic containers in 15-25 cm (6-10 inches) of water
Expert Growing Tips
Plant in submerged containers of clay-loam or pond soil set 15-25 cm (6-10 inches) below the water surface, or plant directly into permanently saturated pond margin soil
Does not compete aggressively in water gardens; spreads slowly and steadily without becoming invasive
Rhizomes survive freezing in water; hardy to USDA zone 5; no winter protection needed in most of its range
Propagate by dividing the large rhizome in spring before new growth begins; divisions re-establish readily
Deciduous in the northern part of its range; evergreen in southern Florida and frost-free regions
CAUTION: Non-reproductive plant parts contain calcium oxalate crystals which can cause severe mouth and digestive irritation and kidney stones if ingested raw; only eat fully processed, traditionally prepared roots; always seek expert guidance before attempting to use the plant as food
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Bold foliage and structural accent plant for natural ponds, bog gardens, and water gardens
- Marginal aquatic planting along pond and stream edges
- Native plant habitat garden and rain garden planting for wetland restoration
- Wildlife habitat plant; berries attract wood ducks and king rails; colonies provide cover for muskrats, snakes, turtles, frogs, dragonflies, and fish
- Erosion control planting on shallow pond margins and wetland banks
- Native plant rain garden and stormwater garden marginal planting
Traditional Uses
- Known as Tuckahoe, a name derived from the Algonquin language, this was a primary food source of the Powhatan people, first documented by William Strachey, Secretary of the Colony of Virginia, in 1611
- Powhatan and other mid-Atlantic Native American peoples processed the large starchy rhizomes extensively before eating: the toxins producing burning in the mouth are removed through prolonged drying, boiling, or roasting and leaching, after which the starch becomes safe and nutritious
- Seeds and fruits were also eaten by some Native American groups
- The berries and seeds are an important food source for wood ducks and king rails; colonies shelter muskrats, snakes, turtles, frogs, and dragonflies
- Used for stabilizing wetland sediments and natural filtration in bioremediation plantings
- Pollinated by the Chloropid fly Elachiptera formosa, which deposits its eggs in the inflorescence and feeds on pollen while cross-pollinating flowers as it moves between plants
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Peltandra Virginica
What is Tuckahoe and how is it related to Peltandra virginica?
Tuckahoe is the common name for Peltandra virginica derived directly from the Algonquin people's name for the plant. The Powhatan Confederacy of Virginia relied on its large, starchy rhizomes as a primary staple food, processing them extensively to remove the raw toxins that cause burning in the mouth. William Strachey, Secretary of the Colony of Virginia, first documented this use in writing in 1611, making this one of the earliest recorded human-plant relationships in North American history.
Is Peltandra virginica toxic?
Yes, the raw plant contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause severe burning and irritation in the mouth, throat, and digestive system, and have been linked to kidney stones. Raw leaves, stems, and rhizomes should never be eaten. Native American peoples developed sophisticated, multi-step processing methods involving drying, boiling, roasting, and leaching to detoxify the starch before consuming it. Always seek expert guidance before attempting to use the plant as food.
What wildlife does Peltandra virginica support?
Peltandra virginica is an important wildlife plant in eastern North American wetlands. Its blackish berries attract wood ducks and king rails. Its seeds are a food source for small mammals that make up 5 to 10 percent of their diet, and 10 to 25 percent of the diet of water birds in its range. Its dense colonies provide critical cover and habitat for muskrats, beavers, snakes, turtles, frogs, dragonflies, and fish. The Chloropid fly that pollinates its flowers also depends on it as a brood site.
How do I grow Peltandra virginica in a water garden?
Plant arrow arum in submerged containers of clay-loam or pond soil set 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) below the water surface, or plant directly into the permanently saturated margin soil of a pond or bog garden. The plant spreads slowly and will not become invasive in a water garden setting. It is hardy to USDA zone 5 and its rhizomes can survive freezing in the pond over winter without protection. Propagate by dividing the large rhizome in spring.
What does Peltandra virginica symbolize?
Peltandra virginica symbolizes resilience, ecological sustenance, and the enduring wisdom of native landscapes. As one of the most important food plants in the history of the Powhatan Confederacy, and as a keystone species of eastern North American wetland ecosystems supporting dozens of animal species, it embodies the quiet but profound generosity of native plant communities and the deep knowledge that develops over thousands of years of human relationship with the natural world.
Available Colors
Quick Facts
Share This Flower
Explore More Beautiful Flowers
Discover other flowers with similar meanings, characteristics, or cultural significance.
Anemopsis
Anemopsis californica
Anemopsis californica, known as Yerba Mansa, is a unique wetland perennial with cone-shaped white flower clusters surrounded by showy white bracts. Valued for both ornamental beauty and traditional medicinal uses.
Anemopsis
Anemopsis californica
Anemopsis californica, known as Yerba Mansa, is a unique wetland perennial with cone-shaped white flower clusters surrounded by showy white bracts. Valued for both ornamental beauty and traditional medicinal uses.
Delonix Elata
Delonix elata (L.) Gamble
Delonix elata, the White Poinciana, is a lesser-known but equally remarkable relative of the famous Royal Poinciana. This semi-deciduous tropical tree produces fragrant creamy-white to pale yellow flowers with striking dark stamens, symbolizing purity, resilience, and the quiet strength found in understated beauty.