One species · 4 forms

Hygrophila corymbosa varieties

Hygrophila corymbosa

Hygrophila corymbosa is a big, fast Southeast Asian stem sold in several nursery forms, from the broad-leaf giant to a stunted rosette. It is the same eager plant in every pot: give it room, light and nutrients and it heads for the surface.

Pick a variety

Care, the same for every form

One setup covers every form on this page.

Difficulty: Beginner
Type: Stem
Temperature: 68–86°F (20–30°C)
pH: 6.0–8.0

One stem, four habits

Siamensis narrows the leaves, Cherry Leaf flushes its new growth red, and Compacta is a dwarf mutation that grows as a squat rosette until it eventually decides to stem anyway. All are nursery forms of the one species, usually sold emersed with dark, stiff leaves that get replaced underwater within weeks.

A nutrient hog, usefully

Corymbosa grows fast enough to show missing nutrients before anything else suffers: pale new leaves mean iron, pinholes mean potassium. That appetite makes it a great plant for new tanks, where it soaks up the excess that would otherwise feed algae.

Common questions

Why did all the leaves fall off after planting?

The emersed leaves it was grown with always drop underwater. New submerged leaves, longer and softer, follow quickly; keep the stems planted and feed them.

How do I keep Compacta small?

It stays low on its own for a long time, especially under strong light. When it finally stems up, cut the stem back to the rosette and replant the cutting.