Lindernia rotundifolia
Lindernia rotundifolia
Also known as Round-leaved lindernia, Lindernia rotundifolia 'Variegated', Bacopa rotundifolia (trade error)
Care at a glance
- Light
- Low light
- CO2
- CO₂ beneficial
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Placement
- Background
- Type
- Stem
- Temperature
- 59–82°F (15–28°C)
- pH
- 5.0–7.5
- Hardness
- 0–15 dGH
- Max height
- 11.8 in (30 cm)
- Spread
- 2.4 in (6 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Root + water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Origin
- Sandy stream banks in Asia (also reported from Madagascar)
- Family
- Linderniaceae
Overview
One of the easier and faster low-light stem plants, so it suits beginners, Walstad-style tanks, and filterless setups. It does fine without CO2, though moderate CO2 makes it denser and more compact. It quickly forms tidy bushy groups and takes regular topping and replanting. On the variegated form, cut off any all-green shoots to keep the marbled look.
In the wild
Grows on sandy banks along streams in Asia, adapted to nutrient-poor substrates where it draws much of its food from the water. It is a compact, round-leaved stem plant with paired leaves running tightly up the stem.
Good to know
Belongs to the family Linderniaceae, split out from the old figwort family Scrophulariaceae. A variegated cream-marbled cultivar exists in the hobby. The round opposite leaves give the species its name rotundifolia.
Did you know
It is unusually productive under low light for a fast grower, which makes it a handy plant for pulling excess nutrients and helping outcompete algae in modest, low-tech tanks.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Glass Aqua Aquascaping plants and planted tank supplies
- Buce Plant Aquatic plants and aquascaping supplies
- Aquarium Plants Factory Aquatic plants shipped from a California greenhouse
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Low-light plants · Background plants · Stem plants · Beginner plants · Fast growers
Growing Lindernia rotundifolia?
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