Hygrophila odora
Also known as Hygrophila sp. 'Afrika', Hygrophila sp. 'Guinea', Polyechma odorum
Care at a glance
- Light
- Medium light
- CO2
- CO₂ required
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Placement
- Midground
- Type
- Stem
- Temperature
- 73–82°F (23–28°C)
- pH
- 4.5–7.0
- Hardness
- 0–8 dGH
- Max height
- 11.8 in (30 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Root + water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Origin
- West Africa (Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal)
- Family
- Acanthaceae
Overview
One of the slower and fussier hygros, best as a feathery midground bush. It wants soft, acidic water, an unshaded spot under medium to strong light, steady CO2 and a full macro and micronutrient supply; Flowgrow specifically warns against letting phosphate fall below 0.3 mg/l. Growth is slow for the genus, so algae on older leaves is the main failure mode when light outruns nutrients. Propagate from top and side shoot cuttings, or float a stem under the surface and let it sprout plantlets along its length.
In the wild
A bog plant of West African riverbanks and wetlands in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and neighbouring countries, where it grows emersed to over half a metre tall in soft, acidic water. Populations spend only part of the year submersed when the rivers flood, which is the form aquarists cultivate.
Good to know
A member of the Acanthaceae whose epithet odora means fragrant. It circulated in the hobby as Hygrophila sp. 'Guinea' or 'Afrika' before being identified, and it is the hobby's one Hygrophila endemic to Africa. The submersed plant looks nothing like a typical hygro: light green, narrow, pinnately cut leaves give it an almost fern-like texture, while the emersed form has plain lanceolate leaves, sturdy hairy stems and light blue to purple flowers.
Did you know
It is the odd one out in its genus: the only Hygrophila in the aquarium hobby that comes from Africa, and instead of the usual fast weedy growth it makes a slow, feathery, fern-like bush.
Appears in
Growing Hygrophila odora?
Track your planted tank, set reminders and plan your layout.
Planning tankmates
See how Hygrophila odora fits a stocking plan. Open the stocking calculator
Add to your site
Show this plant on your own site: a shortcode for WordPress, or an HTML embed for anywhere else.
Related plants
Hygrophila pinnatifida
FreshwaterMedium lightMidground15.7 in (40 cm)
Hygrophila Araguaia
Hygrophila lancea 'Araguaia'FreshwaterHigh lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)Hygrophila corymbosa Compacta
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Compacta'FreshwaterLow lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)Hygrophila pinnatifida UK
Hygrophila pinnatifida 'UK'FreshwaterMedium lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)
Hygrophila costata
FreshwaterMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
Hygrophila Siamensis
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis'FreshwaterMedium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)