Ludwigia peploides

Floating primrose willow

Family: Onagraceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Floating primrose willow is a naturalized perennial herb found in wetland and riparian habitats throughout California's central and coastal regions. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with four to five petals approximately 2 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing in matted, floating, or creeping forms with stems that can be prostrate or erect, it spreads across water surfaces and shorelines. Its alternate leaves are oblong to round, clustered along the stem and ranging from 2 to 8 centimeters long, with smooth edges and occasional fine hairs near the stem's upper portions. The distinctive fruit is generally reflexed, with a hard body that can be nearly smooth or slightly hairy, containing small seeds embedded in a woody inner wall.

California counties: San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Kern, Sonoma, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sutter, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Butte, Contra Costa, Ventura, Inyo, Fresno, Merced, Yolo, Tuolumne, Solano, Madera, Santa Cruz

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.