Ludwigia alternifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lud-WIG-ee-uh al-ter-nih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
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Rattlebox is a North American perennial wildflower found in wet areas as swamps, stream banks, freshwater tidal marshes, ditches and pond edges. It prefers acidic, sandy, moist to wet soils but does have some tolerance for other soils. Flowers appear in summer for 2-3 months and the delicate yellow blooms last for a day or less. These are followed by squarish seed capsules that rattle when shaken. They are pollinated primarily by bees. Plant in rain or water gardens or at stream and lake edges. This plant is heat tolerant.
Larvae of the Pearly wood nymph moth (Eudryas unio) feed on this host plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ludwigia
- Species:
- alternifolia
- Family:
- Onagraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch squarish seed pods that contain many seeds. Fruits are available June-November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2 - 3/4 inch flowers with 4 showy yellow petals that can quickly drop after opening leaving 4 green sepals that are as long as the petals. They are borne on short stalks in the leaf axis. Flowers bloom May-October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4-inch long and 1/2-3/4 inch wide dark green lance-shaped leaves that are sharply pointed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are frequently reddish.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Wet Soil
