Ludwigia, Genus, peploides, Species,
- Genus & species
floating primrose-willow
Overview
Ludwigia peploides is a sprawling aquatic perennial that roots in mud at the water edge and sends floating and creeping stems out over the surface, forming dense mats. The glossy, oval to spoon-shaped leaves are 1-4 in (2.5-10 cm) long and clustered along the stems, with inflated white spongy floats sometimes present at the nodes. From late spring through fall it produces bright yellow five-petaled flowers about 0.8-1.5 in (2-4 cm) across, held just above the water on short stalks. It grows in ponds, ditches, slow streams, lake margins, and seasonal wetlands. Native to the warmer Americas, it is listed as an invasive weed in parts of Europe, Australia, and the western United States, where its mats choke waterways and crowd out other plants. The stems root at the nodes and fragment easily, so pieces spread to new sites. The flowers draw bees and the cover shelters aquatic insects.
Native Range
Native to the warmer parts of the Americas, including the southern and western United States, Mexico, and South America. It grows in ponds, ditches, canals, slow rivers, lake edges, and seasonal wetlands, and has spread as an invasive weed in many other regions.Suggested Uses
In its native range it is sometimes grown at pond margins for its yellow flowers and surface cover. Because it spreads aggressively, it is rarely planted and is removed from many waterways. Where grown, it is confined to contained ponds away from natural water.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread3' - 10'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Ludwigia peploides grows in full sun in still or slow water and saturated mud, rooting at the margin and spreading over the surface, and tolerates a pH of 6.0-8.0. It needs constant moisture or shallow standing water and dies back where water dries completely for long periods. Growth is rapid in warm weather, and mats can double quickly. It is regulated or banned as an invasive aquatic weed in several regions, where planting it is restricted. Pulling stem fragments out fully matters because pieces re-root. Few pests limit it in cultivation.Pruning
Rake or pull mats regularly through the growing season to keep them from covering the water, taking out all stem fragments since they re-root. Cutting back stems before seed set slows the spread. Removed material kept away from waterways prevents fragments from re-rooting.Pruning Schedule
Prune: June–August
summer
Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons
