Central and eastern North America, from southern Quebec and Ontario to Kansas, Texas and Florida
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
90 cm
Temperature
10–24°C
pH
5.5–7.5
Hardness
2–15 dGH
Care level
intermediate
Lighting
High light; best grown emersed
Care
Seedbox is a herbaceous perennial of marshes, wet meadows and swamps, 60–90 cm tall, with reddish stems, alternate lance-shaped leaves 3–10 cm long and single yellow four-petalled flowers. It is named for its cube-shaped seed capsules, which rattle when ripe. 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. It is mainly a marsh plant, and our sources do not say whether it grows long-term underwater; it may be better kept emersed in a paludarium or at a pond margin. It is a temperate plant and suits coldwater tanks or ponds better than tropical aquariums. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwigiaalternifolia); 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.
About Aquatic-Auctions
Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.