The Benefits of Growing Arrowroot Plant in Your Garden: A Natural Solution

Arrowroot isn’t just a pretty face; it’s a soil superhero. With its dense root system it clings to the earth like a toddler to a candy bar, preventing erosion and maintaining soil health. Arrowroot is like nature’s glue holding the ground together and keeping it fertile for other plants to thrive. That’s just one of the many benefits of this underappreciated plant. Let’s explore why arrowroot deserves a spot in your garden.

A Natural Erosion Fighter

With its mat of tuberous roots and rhizomes, arrowroot forms a living barrier that prevents soil erosion. Its web of underground growth holds the earth in place, stopping it from being washed or blown away. This makes arrowroot a great natural solution for areas prone to erosion like sloped yards, creek banks, and shorelines. The plant’s dense foliage also protects the soil surface from the impact of heavy rains.

Improves Soil Quality

The extensive root system of arrowroot performs another vital function – accumulating nutrients and organic matter in the soil As the roots grow and die back each season, they leave behind a network of decaying material in the ground This contributes to soil fertility and water retention. Arrowroot roots also help aerate the earth. Their deep penetration allows oxygen to reach lower levels in the soil profile. Better aeration promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms.

Easy Care

Once established, arrowroot is one tough customer and able to thrive with minimal care. It tolerates a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade. Although arrowroot prefers evenly moist soil, it can handle short periods of drought. The plant readily self-seeds and spreads via rhizomes to form attractive clumps. Arrowroot dies back each winter in cold climates but resprouts vigorously in spring. Simply cut it back before new growth emerges.

Multiplies Easily

You only need one arrowroot plant to end up with many more. The tubers spread readily when divided and can be propagated by planting rhizome pieces. Root cuttings will also generate new plants. Arrowroot often self-seeds as well, producing plenty of volunteers to fill bare spots or share. This easy multiplication makes arrowroot a budget-friendly option.

Provides Tasty Tubers

While arrowroot is usually grown as an ornamental, its tubers can be eaten. The young roots are tender and nutritious with a mild, starchy flavor similar to potato. Arrowroot tubers contain up to 23% starch which can be extracted to make gluten-free arrowroot flour. Although processing the roots is labor-intensive, arrowroot flour is an excellent thickener for sauces, gravies, and glazes.

Attracts Wildlife

The flowers and foliage of arrowroot provide forage and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife. Hummingbirds flock to the plant’s arching spikes of fragrant, nectar-rich blooms. Butterflies like the bright white flowers as well. Arrowroot’s broad leaves give shelter to toads, lizards, and insects that make up the base of the food chain. The edible tubers offer food for creatures like voles.

Versatile Landscaping Plant

With its lush green leaves and delicate flowers, arrowroot brings beauty and texture to gardens. It works well as a ground cover, border plant, or specimen feature. Arrowroot looks great in cottage gardens, tropical beds, and naturalized areas. It can be grown in containers on decks and patios. Arrowroot mixes well with ferns, elephant ears, gingers, and other tropical foliage. The plant adds vertical interest along fences and trellises.

Low Maintenance

Arrowroot thrives with minimal care, making it perfect for gardeners who want beautiful foliage without the work. Once established, it requires little watering or fertilizing. Just give it partial sun and moist soil and it will keep spreading. Arrowroot has few pests or diseases. An annual trim keeps it tidy. Simply cut back any frost-killed stems in winter before new growth sprouts.

Provides Shade and Shelter

With its large, lush leaves, arrowroot creates cool shade and sheltered areas in the garden. Its dense clumps offer protective cover for toads, lizards, and insects. Birds often nest amidst the arrowroot’s foliage. The plant’s thick growth shades the soil surface, helping retain moisture. Arrowroot makes an attractive living screen for blocking unsightly views or dividing spaces.

Simple Propagation

Arrowroot multiplies readily, making getting started with this versatile plant easy and economical. Simply divide the tuberous roots or rhizomes into pieces and replant. Each section will generate a new plant. Take root cuttings from an established arrowroot and grow them into clones of the parent. Arrowroot often self-seeds as well, producing plenty of new plants from dropped seeds.

Adds Height and Structure

With arrowroot’s large, broad leaves on upright stalks, the plant provides height and architectural structure to gardens. Grow arrowroot as a background plant, anchor point, or thriller element. Use it to create a lush hedge or living wall. Train arrowroot vines up trellises, arbors, fences. The contrasting leaves and interesting flowers create depth and dimension.

Provides Edible Tubers

While arrowroot is commonly grown as an ornamental, its tubers are edible. The young roots can be eaten raw or cooked like potatoes with a similar mild, starchy taste. Mature tubers require processing to remove fibers, but produce an edible starch. Arrowroot flour is a gluten-free, nutrient-dense thickener for sauces, gravies, and baked goods.

Attracts Pollinators

Arrowroot’s nectar-rich blooms are magnets for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. The plant’s fragrant white flowers supply food for pollinators from summer into fall. Plant arrowroot in butterfly gardens, cottage beds, and other wildlife habitats. The more arrowroot you grow, the more pollinators your landscape will support.

With benefits that span from ornamental beauty to erosion control, it’s easy to see why arrowroot deserves a spot in any garden. This undemanding plant improves soil, multiplies readily, and adds food and shelter for wildlife. Arrowroot’s lush foliage and pretty flowers enhance beds and borders with tropical texture. Next time you’re planning your garden, be sure to plant some arrowroot and let this unsung hero go to work improving your soil.