Creeping ludwigia (Ludwigia repens) care guide

Group
Plants
Other names
Creeping ludwigia, Narrow-leaf ludwigia, Water primrose, Creeping primrose-willow, Ludwigia repens 'Rubin'
Family
Onagraceae (evening primrose family)
Origin
The Americas, especially southern USA, Mexico and the Caribbean
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
50 cm
Temperature
15–28°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Care level
beginner
Lighting
Medium light; CO2 not needed; strong light gives deeper red

Care

Creeping ludwigia is one of the most popular aquarium stem plants. In the wild it is a mat-forming perennial of wet ground with creeping stems that root wherever the nodes touch damp soil. It has paired, glossy leaves that are green above and reddish below. Ludwigia (water primroses or primrose-willows) is a mainly tropical genus of about 80 species of wetland and aquatic plants in the evening primrose family. Tropica sells the dark red cultivar 'Rubin', rated easy with medium light and low CO2 needs. It reaches 20–30 cm in two months (stems to 50 cm). The Aquarium Wiki notes it grows fast when fed well, anchors in almost any substrate, stays green in low light and turns coppery in bright light. Plant large groups in the midground or background and prune often for bushy growth. Lower leaves drop if light is too weak. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. It is regarded as an aquatic weed in some regions. Never release this plant or dispose of it in drains or waterways; it is invasive in some countries. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); The Aquarium Wiki (theaquariumwiki.com/wiki/Ludwigiarepens); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwigiarepens); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.

Breeding

Take top cuttings and replant them; trimmed stems branch from the nodes below.

Compatibility and tank mates

Goldfish, large cichlids, silver dollars and other plant-eating fish will graze soft stems, and diggers can uproot new cuttings. Most small community fish, shrimp and snails leave it alone, and shrimp and fry use the foliage for cover.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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