Chinese Arrowroot (Sagittaria trifolia)

Family: Alismataceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Sagittaria trifolia is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to August. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves, Shoots, Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Spring, 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, lakes, marshes, paddy fields and channels. (Zone 10)