Arrow Head (Sagittaria sagittifolia)

Family: Alismataceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (5/5)

Sagittaria sagittifolia (commonly "Arrowhead") is a flowering wetland perennial native to temperate Europe and Asia. It commonly grows in standing, or slow-moving water, 10-50 cm deep. Arrow-shaped leaves are produced at the terminal end of a petiole up to 45 cm long. Edible starchy tubers are found at the base of long, slender roots in the fall, as leaves die back.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves, Shoots, Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

taste is somewhat like potatoes. — Excellent when roasted, the taste is somewhat like potatoes.; The tubers are starchy with a distinct flavour.; The tubers should not be eaten raw.The skin is rather bitter and is best removed after the tubers have been cooked.; Tubers can also be dried and ground into a powder, this powder can be used as a gruel etc or be added to cereal flours and used in making bread.The roots (tubers really) are borne on the ends of slender roots, often 30cm deep in the soil and some distance from the parent plant.

Habitat & North American Range

Ponds, canals and slow flowing water on muddy sub-strata in water up to 45cm deep, in acid or calcareous conditions. (Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)