Ludwigia sp.
False loosestrife, water primrose, Water Primrose
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Family: Onagraceae · Type: Annual · Variable; species dependent
Ludwigia sp. (False loosestrife) is a non-native California annual in the Onagraceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Veronica: Ludwigia flowers have 4-5 petals and persistent sepals; Veronica has 4 petals and sepals that fall off.; vs Pistia: Ludwigia has separate petals and normal leaves; Pistia is a free-floating rosette with a spathe-like flower.; vs Portulaca: Ludwigia grows in wet habitats with thin leaves; Portulaca has succulent, fleshy leaves in dry areas.; vs Alternanthera: Ludwigia has slender stems; Alternanthera stems are distinctly swollen at the nodes.; vs Epilobium: Ludwigia flowers have no floral tube; Epilobium has a distinct tubular hypanthium extending above the ovary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ludwigia sp. native to California?
No. Ludwigia sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Ludwigia sp. belong to?
Ludwigia sp. is in the Onagraceae family, genus Ludwigia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Ludwigia grandiflora — Large-flowered primrose-willow
- Ludwigia hexapetala — Uruguayan primrose-willow
- Ludwigia palustris — Marsh purslane
- Ludwigia peploides — Floating primrose willow
- Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis
- Ludwigia peploides subsp. peploides
- Neoholmgrenia andina — Plateau evening primrose
- Neoholmgrenia sp.
- Oenothera avita — California evening primrose
- Oenothera avita subsp. avita
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.