TankBud

One species · 2 forms

Ludwigia palustris

Also known as Marsh seedbox, Marsh primrose-willow, Common water-primrose, Isnardia palustris

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Ludwigia palustris (Ludwigia palustris)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
59–82°F
15–28°C
Max height
19.7 in
50 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
5.0–8.0
Hardness
2–20 dGH
Spread
2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Onagraceae
Origin
Near-cosmopolitan (North and Central America, Europe, North and Southern Africa, West Asia)

Pick a form

Green grows in low to medium light, while Super Red needs strong light and CO2 to turn deep red.

Overview

Ludwigia palustris is one of the easier red stem plants, forming dense bushes in the midground or background.

Did you know

Tropica suggests planting Ludwigia palustris Green and Super Red in one group, where the light green makes the red look deeper.

Caring for Ludwigia palustris

Plant single stems a couple of centimeters apart in a nutrient-rich substrate, since stems left in the bunch tend to rot at the foam. Trim the tops to push side shoots, and replant the cuttings to build a dense hedge.

Ludwigia palustris grows in moderate light without CO2, but it stays greenish and leggy. Strong light, CO2 and good iron levels turn it compact and deep red.

Super Red and Green are nursery selections of Ludwigia palustris with the same small oval leaves in opposite pairs. Both reach about 30 cm and suit the midground, while the plain species can grow to 50 cm. Super Red was bred for deeper color. Green lacks the reddish leaf edges, stems and midribs of most wild palustris and stays light green.

Good to know

Ludwigia palustris belongs to the evening-primrose family, Onagraceae. It is an extremely variable species, so it is often confused with Ludwigia repens and sold under trade names such as 'Super Red'. The older name Isnardia palustris is a synonym.

In the wild

Ludwigia palustris is an almost cosmopolitan marsh plant of boggy ground, ditches, pond margins and slow streams. It grows across North and Central America, Europe, Africa and West Asia. It lives both emersed as a creeping bog plant and fully submersed, in soft to moderately hard water.

Common questions

Why is my Ludwigia Super Red turning brown or green?

Ludwigia Super Red needs strong light, CO2, steady iron and full water-column dosing for solid deep red. Keeping nitrate on the low side helps too. Under modest light it goes red-brown instead.

Why are the lower leaves dropping off my Ludwigia Super Red?

Weak light or low nutrients make Super Red drop its lower leaves. Space the stems about a finger-width apart so light reaches the bottom, and feed both the water column and the substrate. Trim and replant the tops to keep the group bushy.

Does Ludwigia palustris Green need CO2?

Ludwigia palustris Green grows in low to medium light without CO2 and reaches 10 to 30 cm in its first two months. Iron and potassium dosing deepen its green.

Does Ludwigia palustris need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

How much light does Ludwigia palustris need?

Ludwigia palustris wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Ludwigia palustris need root tabs?

They help. Ludwigia palustris takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Ludwigia palustris?

Ludwigia palustris propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

How tall does Ludwigia palustris grow?

Ludwigia palustris grows to about 19.7 in (50 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

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