Water Primrose
Ludwigia peploides · Perennial aquatic broadleaf plant, C3 equivalent photosynthetic pathway in wetland settings
Grass Family
Onagraceae (Note: This is an aquatic/wetland broadleaf plant, not a true grass, but frequently found intermixed with aquatic grasses in water bodies)
Grass Category
Wetland/Riparian Plant and Aquatic Weed
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 11
About This Grass
Forms sprawling mats of creeping reddish stems with alternate, glossy oval to oblong green leaves and emergent yellow flowers. Often found growing in standing water alongside wetland grasses and sedges.
Blade Characteristics
Not applicable as this is a dicotyledonous broadleaf aquatic plant with oval leaves rather than grass blades
Root System
Fibrous roots originating from nodes along submerged and creeping stems, adapted to saturated anaerobic soils
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North and South America, widespread globally in tropical and temperate wetlands
Growth Habit
Stoloniferous and creeping aquatic habit, forming dense floating or emergent mats
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun requirement, entirely aquatic or semi-aquatic with high water needs and zero drought tolerance
Mowing & Maintenance
Not applicable for turf maintenance; mechanical or chemical control required if it becomes an invasive weed in ponds
Special Characteristics
Highly invasive tendency in aquatic environments, forms thick floating mats that can clog waterways and outcompete native aquatic vegetation
Ecological Information
Provides cover and resting sites for small aquatic organisms and macroinvertebrates, but can become a problematic invasive weed in stagnant or slow-moving water bodies