Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Blue Pickerelweed bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Blue Pickerelweed, Anchored Water Hyacinth, Azure Pickerelweed (Pontederia azurea).

More about blue pickerelweed

About Blue Pickerelweed

Pontederia azurea · also called Blue Pickerelweed, Anchored Water Hyacinth · flowering

Pontederia azurea is a rooted, emergent aquatic perennial from South America bearing vivid blue-violet flower spikes above broad, heart-shaped leaves from summer into autumn. Unlike the free-floating common water hyacinth, it anchors in shallow water or wet margins. A striking pond marginal plant valued for its intense flower colour and long bloom season; less aggressively invasive than P. crassipes.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Reduced flowering in shade: Insufficient direct sun is the primary reason for failure to bloom. Even brief shading from overhanging trees or pond-side structures significantly reduces flower production. Relocate to a fully open, sunny position.

The reasons blue pickerelweed isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming blue pickerelweed traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding blue pickerelweed a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get blue pickerelweed to flower

Maximise sun. Give blue pickerelweed the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for blue pickerelweed and get the feeding right with the blue pickerelweed fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Blue Pickerelweed flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full blue pickerelweed care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Blue Pickerelweed blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my blue pickerelweed flower?

Blue Pickerelweed blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make blue pickerelweed bloom?

Give blue pickerelweed the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does blue pickerelweed normally bloom?