What is the difference between powdery alligator-flag and pickerelweed? A quick guide to telling them apart

1. Differences in the plant

The powdery alligator-flag plant is very tall, about 100 to 250 cm in height, and can grow taller than a person. It is a perennial herb.

The pickerelweed plant is somewhat shorter than the former, at about 150 cm.

2. Differences in the leaves

The leaves of powdery alligator-flag are elliptical, about 20-50 cm long and about 10-20 cm wide, light grayish-green in color, covered with a white powder on the underside, with purple edges.

The leaves of pickerelweed are long heart-shaped, up to 25 cm long and up to 15 cm wide, dark green in color, and relatively smooth on the surface.

3. Differences in the flowers

The flowers of powdery alligator-flag are purple, covered with a white powdery substance.

The flowers of pickerelweed are made up of about a hundred small florets arranged together, blue in color, very beautiful, with the flowering period around May.