TankBud

Hedyotis salzmannii

Oldenlandia salzmannii

Also known as Anotis salzmannii, Bacopa sp. Pantanal

FreshwaterStemCuttings

Hedyotis salzmannii (Oldenlandia salzmannii)
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
59–77°F
15–25°C
Max height
7.9 in
20 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Midground
Type
Stem
pH
5.0–7.5
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Easy
Family
Rubiaceae
Origin
Southern South America (southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, northeastern Argentina); naturalized in the southern United States

Overview

Hedyotis salzmannii is an easy, fast-growing little stem plant with rounded, fresh green leaves. It fits the midground of a nano tank.

Did you know

Flowgrow rates Hedyotis salzmannii hardy down to about 4 degrees. That lets it overwinter in a cold-water setup that would kill most of the tropical stems it is sold alongside.

Caring for Hedyotis salzmannii

Plant the stems one at a time, a little apart, or in loose groups among hardscape. Hedyotis salzmannii makes only very fine roots that anchor poorly. Older stands tend to lift out of the substrate as a result.

Give it medium light. It grows without injected CO2, but more light and added CO2 both make it denser. It feeds through its roots and its leaves, so root tabs and a liquid fertilizer both help.

It grows fast and propagates by cuttings. When an older stand starts to lift, replant the tips and throw away the bottoms. It handles 59 to 77°F (15 to 25°C), so it does well in unheated tanks and can spend the summer in a pond.

Good to know

Hedyotis salzmannii is one of very few aquarium plants from Rubiaceae, the coffee and bedstraw family. It was described from Brazilian material collected by Philipp Salzmann, and the epithet honors him. Botanists have moved it between Hedyotis, Oldenlandia and Anotis over the years. Oldenlandia salzmannii is now the accepted name, though the trade still sells it as Hedyotis salzmannii. It has also circulated misidentified as Bacopa sp. Pantanal.

In the wild

Hedyotis salzmannii is native to subtropical southern South America, in southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. It has naturalized in parts of the southern United States. It grows as an amphibious creeper in wet meadows, ditches and the margins of streams and ponds. It stands emersed on damp ground, goes submersed when flooded and shrugs off cool water.

Common questions

Does Hedyotis salzmannii need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes. Strip the leaves from the lower part of each stem, then push the stems into the substrate one at a time, a little apart.

Does Hedyotis salzmannii need CO2?

No, but it helps. Hedyotis salzmannii can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Hedyotis salzmannii need?

Hedyotis salzmannii wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Hedyotis salzmannii need root tabs?

They help. Hedyotis salzmannii takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Hedyotis salzmannii?

Hedyotis salzmannii propagates by cuttings. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots.

How tall does Hedyotis salzmannii grow?

Hedyotis salzmannii grows to about 7.9 in (20 cm) tall. It grows fast, so expect to trim it often.

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