Ludwigia arcuata

Care at a glance

Overview

A fine-textured red stem plant for the mid-ground that branches heavily into dense bushes. Light is the single biggest factor for color, with high light, CO2 and good iron pushing it from orange toward deep red, and lean nitrates (around 5 ppm and below) intensifying the red further. It is somewhat fragile and prone to melting after big parameter swings or when newly converting from emersed growth, so keep conditions stable. Trim and replant the tops to propagate.

In the wild

Native to the southeastern United States, where it grows creeping or submersed along rivers and around the edges of ponds in soft, acidic water. It readily switches between a broader emersed bog form and the fine needle-leaved submersed form prized by aquarists.

Good to know

An Onagraceae stem plant; the name Ludwigia pedunculosa is treated as a synonym. The submersed form has very narrow, almost needle-like leaves, quite unlike the wider leaves of the emersed plant, which is why store-bought emersed stock looks different until it converts underwater.

Did you know

Did you know that keeping nitrates deliberately low pushes Ludwigia arcuata much redder, since nutrient limitation, rather than just bright light, is one of the tricks aquascapers use to intensify its orange-to-red coloration.

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