Ludwigia alternifolia – Seedbox

General Information: A slender herbaceous perennial with showy yellow flowers and an even more fascinating seed pod. The four-petaled yellow flowers bloom only for a day, sometimes in succession, at sporadic intervals between June and September. The flowers are attractive to pollinators, especially Long-Tongued Bees. The real magic of Seedbox is in the fall, however. Around October the foliage of the plants turns scarlet, streaked with hues of yellow and remnants of green. At the same time, the most ornamental feature of this native plant, the seed pods, reach maturity. The brown woody seed pods resemble miniature salt and pepper shakers and are finely detailed like the work of a skilled potter. These seedpods persist into early winter, providing a natural, easily admired, decorative spectacle after much of the year’s foliage has died back. Inside the box are thousands of tiny seeds that look like sawdust. The dried seed pods make an excellent addition to dry floral arrangements, although they are somewhat fragile and may split open if dried too much.

Cultivation Details: Seedbox thrives anywhere that remains consistently moist and relatively sunny. Consider planting Seedbox near a downspout, in rain gardens, or along pond, lake, or stream edges. This plant can be grown alone as a specimen, or if the ground is kept bare, can be propagated by seed to form a colony. Seedlings only emerge on the surface of bare, weed-free soil. Consider pairing with other wetland specialist plants such as Sweetgrass (Heirochloe odorata), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and American Sweetflag (Acorus americanus).

Growing Requirements: Plant in full to dappled sun. Plants in dappled sun may grow shorter than those in full sun and require regular weeding to eliminate competition. Requires moist to wet soils. Does not tolerate dry soils. Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not tolerate heavy clay. Suitable for acidic and neutral soils.