Does it need a lot of water?

Yes, it prefers consistently moist to saturated soil.

Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?

It will struggle unless you provide very high moisture levels.

Plant guide

Winged primrose-willow.

Ludwigia decurrens

Pronounced lud-WIG-ee-uh de-KUR-enz

Also known as Willow primrose, Wingleaf primrose-willow, winged water-primrose, wingleaf primrose-willow

Wingleaf Primrose-Willow — Photo by M. Whitson (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This is a lovely wetland plant that really thrives in damp spots. It features unique winged stems that make it stand out in any water garden. You will find it quite happy as long as its roots stay consistently wet.

Another photo of Winged primrose-willow — Photo by Silvia Ten (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Perennial aquatic herb
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 1 to 2 days
Mature size: 3 to 5 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 10
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil saturated or grow it directly in shallow water to mimic its natural habitat. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal that the plant is drying out too much. Ensure it gets plenty of sunlight to promote those bright yellow blooms.

Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist or submerged in shallow water.
Feeding: Use a balanced aquatic plant fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back leggy stems to encourage a bushier shape and more flowers.
Repotting: Repot when the roots become crowded or the plant outgrows its container.
Soil: Heavy clay or loamy wetland soil
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.5
Temperature: 5 to 35°C
Humidity: 60 to 95%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Annual or short-lived perennial
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Plant drying out too quickly

Safety

People: There are no reports of significant toxicity in humans.
Children: Keep away from small children as the plant parts are not meant for ingestion.
Contact allergens: No specific contact irritants are known.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Distinctive winged stems
Yellow four petaled flowers
Lance shaped alternate leaves
Grows in marshy habitats

Height: 0.3 to 1.2m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Aphids · Small insects that suck sap from new growth.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: In colder regions, the plant will die back to the ground. You can leave the debris until spring or clear it away after the first hard frost.
In containers: It grows well in containers if kept in a water-filled saucer or pond margin.

Seed

Collect seeds from dried capsules in late autumn.
Sow seeds directly onto moist soil surface.
Keep the soil saturated until germination occurs.

Group this plant with other moisture-loving species to create a stable wetland microclimate.

Grows well with

Pickerelweed · They share similar moisture requirements in wetland settings.
Soft Rush · It provides a nice structural contrast to the primrose-willow.

Similar species

Creeping Primrose-willow · It has a similar flower but a creeping growth habit.

Science

Family: Onagraceae
Genus: Ludwigia
Order: Myrtales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: North and South America
Conservation: It is not currently listed as endangered or threatened.

It is a wetland specialist that survives in saturated soils where other plants might drown.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: wetland restoration, rain garden filler

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a lot of water?: Yes, it prefers consistently moist to saturated soil.
Can I grow it in a regular garden bed?: It will struggle unless you provide very high moisture levels.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors German botanist Christian Gottlieb Ludwig, while the species name refers to the decurrent leaf bases that run down the stem.

Good to know

It is commonly known as winged primrose-willow.
The stems have distinct wings that give the plant its common name.
It is native to the Americas and often found in ditches.

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This guide was generated with AI on October 24, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.