Found on shorelines, sand banks, and in stagnant ponds, American Water Willow is a colony forming perennial. Without competition, these colonies can become quite extensive, and is used in bank repairs. This thick leaves and bulbous blooms give this plant a very interesting texture. It associates with Elecharis palustris, Iris vigrinica shrevei, and Saururus cernuss. This plant is wildly considered to be the hardiest of native Justicia spp.