Ludwigia repens

Ludwigia repens

Ludwigia repens is an extremely versatile plant.  It is a beautiful aquarium plant which will also grow in ponds and in damp soil, at least in warm temperate climates like the Adelaide Hills where I live. It is dormant in cold weather, but grows well when the weather warms up.

Aquariums

In an aquarium it needs fairly bright light. If grown with insufficient light it becomes fully green, but in brighter light it gets a beautiful coppery colour to its leaves and stems. If allowed to, it will grow above the water surface. If given plenty of plant nutrients it grows rapidly. This rapid growth helps remove the excess Nitrogen that often builds up in aquariums. As with any rapidly growing green plant underwater, their growth is accompanied by the production of Oxygen that is beneficial to fish.

Ponds

Ludwigia repens is also an excellent pond plant where it will grow either underwater, or as a floating plant.

Cuttings

This plant will grows roots from the stem nodes and even small pieces will grow in water. It is often sold in bunches in aquarium shops, for convenience of selling. Generally, people will separate the pieces for planting in the substrate of their aquarium.

In the Soil

Some years ago, before Betta Trading started in 1990, the main source of Ludwigia repens in South Australia was a wet section of a cow paddock. It will grow happily in wet soil.

Common Names include creeping primrose willow, Red Ludwigia, creeping water purslane and creeping primrose-willow. When sold in aquarium shops it is often just called Ludwigia.

Scientific Names

The accepted scientific name of this plant is Ludwigia repens.  A commonly used junior synonym is Ludwigia natans.  It has also been called Isnardia repens and Isnardia intermedia.

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Polymorphic

This species has many different forms, and the situation is further confused because of the ease with which it hybridizes with other species in its genus.

Pest Plant

Ludwigia repens has the potential of being a weed in some situations.

It is native to some of the southern states of the United States of America and some Caribbean islands.