L. peploides has established a significant presence as an invasive species, and has caused serious problems in areas where it has been introduced, presenting challenges to ecologies and infrastructure.

Bans on the trade of L. peploides have been enacted in the contiguous nations of France, Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as in United Kingdom and Portugal, and there are reports that it has now also been found in Croatia.

They have very high levels of reproduction and efficient dispersal capacity which is a large factor in its ability to take over habitats all across the world.

The stems will eventually rise to the waters surface and will then form rosettes and small round leaves.

For the rest of the year, the winter months, the species will break up, dry out and decay but it has been seen that there are cases where it can survive.

Because Ludwigia can propagate from stem fragments or rhizomes broken off by wind, water flow or animals, they have been scattered across the globe.

As a result of their high plasticity, Ludwigia can colonize almost anywhere in slow flowing waters, river banks and wet meadows.

[2] This implies that this species cannot be imported, cultivated, transported, commercialized, planted, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.

[3] Ludwigia peploides is an herbaceous perennial wetland plant, usually common along mud or a water surface.

The Ludwigia species cause dense mats which form a perfect protective habitat for mosquitoes.

This causes higher rates of the West Nile virus and other diseases that mosquitoes commonly spread.

Fish can have a hard time moving through these dense Ludwigia populations, which then in turn affect the habitat of surface animals such as birds.

Numerous compounds which have medicinal properties are produced by the Ludwigia species such as saponins, tannins, polyphenols, alkaloids, linoleic acids, flavonoids, starch grains and calcium oxalate crystals.