• Photo of Ludwigia (Ludwigias)

Plant Profile: Ludwigia

Taxonomy: Ludwigia

Names

Water Primrose

  • Photo of Ludwigia (Ludwigias)

Phonetic Spelling:lood-WIG-ee-uh

Genus:Ludwigia

Species:

Family:Onagraceae

Ludwigia is a genus comprising approximately 82 species of predominantly aquatic plants found in various regions around the globe. These plants can be classified as annuals, perennials, or subshrubs. They are frequently utilized in aquariums and have also established populations in natural environments.

Commonly known as Water Primrose, these plants thrive in wetlands, ponds, and lakes. Some species are regarded as invasive weeds due to their rapid growth, which can lead to the domination of a pond's ecosystem. The striking yellow flowers bloom in the evening and have an extended flowering period. Additionally, they are prolific seed producers. The stems can spread along the ground, rooting at the nodes, and can reach lengths of up to 9 feet.

Ludwigia Feature Summary

Ludwigia Image Gallery

Tags

#yellow
#weed
#yellow flowers
#weedy

Similar Plants

Ludwigia Feature Summary

Attributes
Europe, Asia, North and South America
Perennial
Annual
Fruit
Capsules contain many small seeds
Flowers
1/2 inch five-petaled yellow flowers float on the surface or lay on the ground and occur on stems from the leaf axil.
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Summer
Fall
4-5 petals/rays
Leaves
Lance to egg-shaped leaves. Size varies, up to 6inches long. May or may not have hairs. Can be an opposite or alternate leaf arrangement. Leave color varies from greens to reds.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Opposite
Alternate
3-6 inches
Stem
Stems root at the nodes and are sprawling, fleshy and often reddish. May or may not have hairs.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Whole Plant Traits
Spreading
Horizontal
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water

Ludwigia Attributes

Ludwigia: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe, Asia, North and South America

Ludwigia: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ludwigia Fruit

Ludwigia: Fruit Description

Capsules contain many small seeds

Ludwigia: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Ludwigia Flowers

Ludwigia: Flower Description

1/2 inch five-petaled yellow flowers float on the surface or lay on the ground and occur on stems from the leaf axil.

Ludwigia: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Ludwigia: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Ludwigia: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Ludwigia Leaves

Ludwigia: Leaf Description

Lance to egg-shaped leaves. Size varies, up to 6inches long. May or may not have hairs. Can be an opposite or alternate leaf arrangement. Leave color varies from greens to reds.

Ludwigia: Leaf Color

spa
Green
spa
Red/Burgundy

Ludwigia: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ludwigia: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ludwigia: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Ludwigia: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ludwigia: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ludwigia Stem

Ludwigia: Stem Description

Stems root at the nodes and are sprawling, fleshy and often reddish. May or may not have hairs.

Ludwigia: Stem Color

grass
Green
grass
Red/Burgundy

Ludwigia: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ludwigia Whole Plant Traits

Ludwigia: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Ludwigia: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Ludwigia Cultural Conditions

Ludwigia: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Ludwigia: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry