Edges of ponds, shallow lakes, marshes, and streams, wet fields, areas subject to seasonal flooding, irrigation ditches, pastures, orchards, rice fields, grain fields, irrigated crops. Plants typically grow in wet to moist soils, but tolerate periods of dryness. Terrestrial plants grow best in disturbed places with fertile soils and minimal competition. Plants do not tolerate highly acidic soils. Often follows human disturbance and grows in moist urban places.
Seed is dormant when shed and requires a cold, moist period to break dormancy.
Seeds germinate in spring. Seed longevity in the field is poorly documented. Under certain conditions, fragmented stems regenerate into new plants. Stem pieces develop roots rapidly and can disperse great distances along watercourses to initiate new colonies. Populations derived from a single clone do not set seed.