Ludwigia palustris
Hampshire purslane
A very rare aquatic native found only in a few pools in southern England. Succulent, pale green to red stems up to 30cm tall bear paired, oval, shiny leaves which take on red tones in bright sunlight. Tiny, inconspicuous, green flowers are produced in summer
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Poorly–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Red | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Red | Green | Green | |
| Autumn | Red | Green | ||
| Winter | Red | Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Onagraceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- Yes
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
A genus of around 82 species of aquatic plants, native to tropical parts of the world with dark green foliage, red stems and yellow flowers
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Widely sold as an aquarium plant, and occuring naturally in acid pools, will grow in bog gardens and other fertile, permanently wet soils, or part-submerged in shallow water at the edges of ponds or lakes
Propagation
Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.