Water Primrose

Ludwigia hexapetala

Family: Onagraceae

Weed class: B
Year Listed: 2000
Native to: South America and South and South-Central United States
Is this Weed Toxic?:

not known to be

Legal listings:

This plant is also on the Washington State quarantine list. It is prohibited to transport, buy, sell, offer for sale, or distribute plants or plant parts of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington or to sell, offer for sale, or distribute seed packets of seed, flower seed blends, or wildflower mixes of quarantined species into or within the state of Washington. Please see WAC 16-752 for more information on the quarantine list. For questions about the quarantine list, contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture's Plant Services Program at (360) 902-1874 or email PlantServices@agr.wa.gov.

Why Is It a Noxious Weed?

Water primrose is an invasive aquatic species that forms extensive mats, impairing water flow and shoreline activity. It can dominate shoreline vegetation if introduced to lakes, rivers, ponds or streams. It is very difficult to control once established.

How would I identify it?

General Description

Water primrose is an aquatic perennial herb with robust, sprawling growth and showy, bright yellow flowers. Fibrous roots form from lower nodes on stems. It also produces white, hanging root-like structures.

Flower Description

Flowering stems are upright. Flowers are showy, yellow and have 5 bright petals, 0.6 to 1 inch (1.5 to 2.5 cm) long. Flowers are solitary on stalks that come from the leaf axils (upper angle of where leaf attaches to stem).

Leaf description

Leaves are alternately arranged along stems. Young leaves form rosette-like clusters. Mature leaves are willow-like in shape, up to about 4.75 inches long and are slightly hairy.

Stem description

Stems are sprawling on water or mud. They lengthen and grow upright during flowering.

Fruit Seed Description

Capsules are formed that are up to 1.25 inches long and contain many small seeds.

May Be Confused With

Floating primrose-willow, Ludwigia peploides, a Class A noxious weed in Washington, looks very similar, and they can be very difficult to tell apart - even for experts. If you need help with plant identification, please contact your county noxious weed coordinator.

Where does it grow?

Water primrose is an aquatic herb which is found rooted and growing in shallow water to about 1 m deep; it is found in margins of lakes, ponds, ditches and streams. Please click here to see a county level distribution map of water primrose in Washington.

How Does it Reproduce?

Water primrose spreads by seeds and by plant fragments.

How Do I Control It?

Herbicide Control

Because herbicide availability and regulation differ between states, we recommend the Washington Department of Ecology website for information on aquatic weed management and herbicides, or contact your county noxious weed coordinator.