TankBud

One species · 1 form

Limnophila aromatica

Also known as Rice paddy herb, Ambulia aromatica, Limnophila aromaticoides

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Limnophila aromatica (Limnophila aromatica)
"'Rice Paddy Herb'" by threefingeredlord is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · by-sa

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
15.7 in
40 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
3–14 dGH
Spread
3.1 in (8 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Plantaginaceae
Origin
Tropical and subtropical Asia (Southeast and East Asia, Australia)

Pick a form

Mini takes the same strong light, CO2 and full dosing as plain aromatica.

Overview

Limnophila aromatica is a fast-growing stem plant for the back of the tank, grown for its color. It rates medium in difficulty.

Did you know

Limnophila aromatica doubles as a kitchen herb. Its emersed form, rice paddy herb or ngo om, is chopped into Vietnamese sour soups. Cooks prize its citrus-cumin aroma and lemony, slightly spicy flavor.

Caring for Limnophila aromatica

Plant Limnophila aromatica in groups at the rear of the tank. Strip the lower leaves and push the stems in one at a time, a little apart.

Its color only develops fully under bright light. Give it strong lighting, rich water-column dosing and CO2 to bring out the purple. In low light without CO2, it stays green, grows leggy and is prone to algae. It feeds through roots as well as leaves, so root tabs help alongside the liquid dosing.

It grows fast and needs frequent topping, and the replanted tops branch to fill in the group. Trim before the stems reach the surface, or the lower foliage thins out. Keep it at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C).

Limnophila aromatica 'Mini' is a dwarf form with serrated leaves 1 to 2.5 cm long, in pairs or threes. Plain aromatica is a background stem up to about 40 cm, and Mini suits the midground. Strong light turns Mini brown-red, while its midribs and stems often stay pale green. Plain aromatica colors green to purple, with the purple strongest on the leaf undersides.

A second plant has sold as Limnophila aromatica 'Mini' since about 2020. The look-alike is Limnophila cf. hippuridoides 'Mini', with star-shaped whorls of about five leaves and red-violet undersides. The true Mini keeps its leaves in pairs or threes, with pale green midribs. Check the photo on a listing before you buy.

Good to know

Limnophila aromatica is a member of Plantaginaceae, the same family as Limnophila sessiliflora. Underwater it forms upright stems with whorls of narrow leaves, ranging from green to deep purple-red.

In the wild

Limnophila aromatica is widespread across tropical and subtropical Asia, from northeast India and Bhutan through Southeast Asia to southern China, Japan and Korea. It also reaches northern Australia. It grows in rice paddies, marshes and wet ditches as an amphibious herb, often emersed where it flowers.

Common questions

Does Limnophila aromatica Mini stay small?

Limnophila aromatica 'Mini' looks best at 10 to 20 cm, though untrimmed shoots can pass 30 cm. Top the group often and replant the cuttings to keep it low in the midground.

Why is my Limnophila aromatica Mini green instead of red?

Mini needs strong light, CO2, soft water and full macro and micro dosing to turn brown-red. Under moderate light it keeps growing but stays pale green. Plain aromatica also stays green in low light without CO2.

Does Limnophila aromatica 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 Limnophila aromatica need CO2?

No, but it helps. Limnophila aromatica can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Limnophila aromatica need?

Limnophila aromatica needs high light from a strong planted-tank LED. In weaker light its stems stretch and drop their lower leaves.

Does Limnophila aromatica need root tabs?

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

How do you propagate Limnophila aromatica?

Limnophila aromatica propagates by cuttings and side shoots. Cut off the top of a stem and replant it, and the stump left behind grows new shoots. Cut a side shoot off once it has a few leaves and plant it on its own.

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