Ludwigia palustris

RHS Plant Profile

Hampshire purslane

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Other common names

marsh purslane, water purslane

Synonyms

Isnardia palustris
Ludwigia palustris var. americana

Aquatic Bogs Herbaceous Perennial

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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

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical 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

Propagate by softwood cuttings or by division

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free