TankBud

Ludwigia Pantanal

Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Pantanal'

Also known as Ludwigia inclinata 'Pantanal', Pantanal, Red Pantanal

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Ludwigia Pantanal (Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Pantanal')
Bjoern.Traeger · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
15.7 in
40 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
4.5–7.0
Hardness
0–8 dGH
Spread
3.1 in (8 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Onagraceae
Origin
Pantanal wetlands, southwestern Brazil

Overview

One of the most demanding stem plants in the hobby. It needs high light, pressurized CO2, soft acidic water (ideally under 3 dKH), and steady dosing of nitrate, phosphate, potassium and especially iron. Iron shortage shows up fast as pale or white new growth and shrinking leaves. It tends to either boom or bust, so keep parameters stable and prune the tops to replant as it grows several centimeters a day when happy.

In the wild

This is a naturally collected variety from the Pantanal wetlands of southwestern Brazil, one of the largest tropical wetland systems in the world. In the wild it grows in shallow, soft, acidic water and can also creep along wet mud in its emersed form. The submersed plant is prized for narrow whorled leaves that turn deep pink to blood red under strong light.

Good to know

It belongs to the family Onagraceae, the evening primrose family. The 'verticillata' epithet refers to the verticillate (whorled) leaf arrangement, where leaves radiate around the stem in rings rather than in opposite pairs. It is a named locality form of Ludwigia inclinata, not a separate species, and is closely related to the 'Cuba' variety.

Did you know

Did you know its submersed leaves and stems can flush an intense magenta to red, but the plant produces small bright yellow flowers when grown emersed above the waterline, a reminder that it is a member of the primrose-willow family.

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