Red Ludwigia Pond Plant - Care & Grow Guide
by Tory Jon | Last Updated: November 16, 2022
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Red Ludwigia has been noted as a variation of Ludwigia plants. You can also find it under the name “Ludwigia Repens.”
Other than the Red Ludwigia, there are more than 50 other species similar to it, and they are found in North America, South America, and some other tropical climates. Naturally, this is one of those pond plants that thrive in damp, warm, and sunny conditions.
This popular plant is commonly grown as a submerged plant or as an emergent plant near the pond's edge, where it will consume nutrients that would otherwise fuel algae growth. This helps keep your pond clean and clear!
Invasive Potential: Low. Red ludwigia in the aquarium trade is generally Ludwigia repens. The genus includes many species with different native ranges, so verify the plant label and local rules before planting outdoors.
Keep aquarium-grown or nursery-grown ludwigia contained, especially in warm climates and ponds with overflow paths. Use USDA aquatic invasive plant guidance as a starting point and confirm current requirements with your state agriculture or natural resources agency. Never release unwanted pond plants, roots, seeds, rhizomes, or trimmings into lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, drainage ditches, storm drains, or natural ponds.
Scientific Name
Ludwigia repens
Invasive Potential
Low
Common Names
Red leaf ludwigia, red repens, and water primrose
Plant Type
Marginal plant/submerged plant
Light Requirements
Full sun
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zone 5 - 11
Bloom
Spring to Fall
Grow Up To
36 inches
Flower Color
Yellow
How to Plant Red Ludwigia in a Pond
To plant Ludwigia in a pond, anchor the stems or roots of the plants in 1-2 inches of the substrate, so they don't float back to the surface. You can also plant them in containers and place them on a planting shelve in your pond, as they are emergent plants and will grow above the water's surface.
Ludwigia thrives in various planting media – aquarium gravel, muck, loam, or aquatic soil.
For best results, ensure a minimum spacing of 1 inch among Ludwigia plants. This will prevent any direct nutrient competition among them.
Red Ludwigia Care Guide
Ludwigia is easy to care for if it receives ample sunlight and nutrients from the pond's water. It does grow very quickly if these conditions are met, so be sure to trim the plant regularly and remove any clippings away from the water so they don't unintentionally spread and grow throughout your pond or decompose and cause water quality issues.
To overwinter Ludwigia in colder climates, you can take the plants indoors and allow them to grow in an aquarium or tub (ensure they get ample light). Or simply allow them to die off and replant in Spring.
Responsible Disposal
Never release red ludwigia plants, roots, seeds, rhizomes, or trimmings into lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, drainage ditches, storm drains, or natural ponds. Do not dump pond or aquarium water containing plant fragments into natural waterways.
Ludwigia stems can root from fragments. Net out trimmings, dry and bag them, and never flush aquarium water or pond water containing cuttings into storm drains or streams.
Red Ludwigia Care Card
Download our free printable care card for Red Ludwigia! Click the care card below and save the PDF file to your computer. You can easily print off the 3x5 care card or access it right from your phone.
Pond Plant Care Card Set
Get the full printable set of 23 pond plant care cards in one PDF. The cards are formatted for quick reference on your phone or easy 3x5 printing.
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