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Water Purslane Ludwigia palustris

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
lood-WIG-ee-uh pal-US-triss
Description

Water Purslane is a mat-forming wet area plant in the primrose family. It is found growing in low water situations along small ponds or streams or in muddy areas. It is also used in aquariums. The stems are succulent and often red in color. The inconspicuous flowers occur mid-summer to fall.

This plant may be seed near a pond or grown in rain or water gardens.

When growing in mud the plant sprawls along the ground with just the branch tips upright. In the water, branches ascend towards the surface with just the tips out of water. Both in the water and out, roots are continuously forming at the nodes, forming mats. It can be considered weedy but can also be a stabilizing plant on muddy banks, and is used to filter and take in toxins in bioswales and ditches.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#wetlands#NC native#pond garden#weed#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#wetlands#NC native#pond garden#weed#boggy sites
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ludwigia
    Species:
    palustris
    Family:
    Onagraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    The Americas
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , AZ , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    It serves as forage for aquatic insects.
    Edibility:
    Leaves and stems are edible either fresh or cooked.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    1/4 inch squarish seedbox with many seeds
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Stemless inconspicuous flowers form at the leaf axils and have no petals during mid-summer to fall.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    1½" long and ¾" across leaves are medium green to dark reddish-green. The stem blades abruptly taper to a winged stalk.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are succulent and green to reddish-green
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Water Garden
    Problems:
    Weedy