Bulltongue Arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia)
Broad lance-shaped blades standing tall along the pond margin.
Sagittaria lancifolia is the classic emergent marginal for ponds and bog edges — long, upright stalks topped with broad lance-shaped leaves, accented in summer by small white three-petaled flowers. Its dense root mass filters runoff, stabilizes soft banks, and gives shelter to fry and amphibians. Farm-raised from divisions and shipped established.
What it needs to thrive
- Lighting
- Full sun to part shade.
- Flow
- Tolerates moving water along stream and waterfall margins.
- Feeding
- Column and root feeder — dose a complete liquid fertilizer weekly; root tabs for heavy substrate rooters.
- Temperament
- Peaceful — shrimp-safe, fry-safe, and grown pesticide-free.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Ideal Tank Size
- Any pond or bog margin
- Water Parameters
- 60–85°F seasonal · pH 6.5–8.0 · full sun to part shade · nutrient-rich pond soil, gravel capped
Marginal shelf, 2–6 inches of water over the crown. Also thrives in consistently boggy soil at the edge.
Steady spreader by runners — plant in a contained basket if you want to keep the clump tight. Peaceful with fish, koi may nibble new shoots.
Quarantine, dip, and acclimation
Quarantine
Hold all new fish in a bare-bottom 10–20 gallon QT for a minimum of 4 weeks. Observe for flashing, clamped fins, white spots, or breathing changes. Treat preventatively with copper (1.75–2.5 ppm chelated) or tank-transfer method for ich, plus a praziquantel course for flukes. Invertebrates and corals skip QT but go through dip and observation instead.
Recommended coral dip
For every new coral: a 5–10 minute bath in your reef-safe dip of choice (Bayer Complete, CoralRx, or Reef Primer) following label dosage, followed by two clean saltwater rinses. Inspect plugs and bases for flatworms, pyramid snails, and eggs — remove or refrag onto clean plugs before placing in display.
Acclimation
Float sealed bags in your QT or display for 15 minutes to match temperature. Then drip acclimate at 2–4 drops per second for 45–60 minutes until volume has tripled. Net livestock into the tank — never pour shipping water in. Dim the lights for the first 24 hours to reduce stress.
