This native, emergent or submersed aquatic plant grows best in shallow water up to five feet deep in static or slow moving freshwater such as lakes, streams, and pond margins. Sagittaria graminea has both emergent and underwater leaves. The small, white or sometimes pink flowers are found in two to 12 groups of three-flowered whorls at the end of the flower stem. The flower stem is an emergent stalk to about three feet tall. The flowers are always below leaf height and produce clusters of fruitlets that contain oblong small seeds. The seeds germinate in the spring and grow slowly to produce profusely flowering stems in summer (July and August). Flowering continues until autumn with seed slowly maturing through autumn and winter. Most seeds fall close to the colony but some may be eaten by ducks. Fleshy rhizomes are the major means of spread.