Ambulia

Limnophila sessiliflora

Also known as Dwarf ambulia, Asian ambulia, Asian marshweed, Limnophila

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Invasive. On the US Federal Noxious Weed List and banned or restricted in several states (Florida, Texas). Never release into the wild; check that it is legal in your area.

Ambulia (Limnophila sessiliflora) — kajuko · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Light: Low light
CO2: No CO₂ needed
Temperature: 68–82°F; 20–28°C
Max height: 15.7 in; 40 cm

Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Background
Type: Stem
pH: 5.5–8.0
Hardness: 4–15 dGH
Spread: 1.6 in (4 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Easy
Family: Plantaginaceae
Origin: Tropical and subtropical Asia (India through Japan)

Overview

A robust, undemanding background stem that grows in low light with no CO2, making it a good fast-growing filler and algae competitor. Plant in clusters at the back and trim often, replanting the cut tops; it also branches readily from side shoots. The main pitfall is its speed: left untrimmed it shades out slower plants and clogs the upper tank. Note it is a listed noxious weed in the US, so never release trimmings into local waterways and check that it is legal in your area.

In the wild

Native across tropical and subtropical Asia, from India and Southeast Asia up through southern China, Korea, and Japan, in ponds, rice paddies, ditches, and slow streams. It is an amphibious plant that grows submersed with whorls of feathery, Cabomba-like leaves and emerges to flower above the surface. It has escaped cultivation and naturalized in the southern United States, where it is now invasive in Florida, Texas, and Georgia.

Good to know

Placed in the family Plantaginaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae). The epithet 'sessiliflora' refers to its stalkless (sessile) flowers borne in the leaf axils. Its finely divided submersed foliage closely mimics Cabomba, but unlike Cabomba it has far lower light demands.

Did you know

Limnophila sessiliflora is on the US Federal Noxious Weed List and is banned or restricted in several states, so a plant that is sold cheaply as easy beginner filler is actually illegal to possess in places like Florida and Texas.