Myriophyllum Roraima

Myriophyllum sp. 'Roraima'

Also known as Roraima milfoil, Bronze Roraima milfoil, Myriophyllum aquaticum 'Roraima'

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Care at a glance

Light: High light
CO2: CO₂ beneficial
Temperature: 50–82°F; 10–28°C
Max height: 23.6 in; 60 cm

Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Background
Type: Stem
pH: 5.0–7.5
Hardness: 2–14 dGH
Spread: 2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Medium
Family: Haloragaceae
Origin: Brazil (Roraima state)

Overview

Easier than most red milfoils. It will grow without CO2 injection, but strong light plus CO2 and a balanced macro and micro dosing routine bring out the best orange, bronze, and deep red tones. It grows fast and tall, so it works as a background or Dutch-style accent, propagated by cutting and replanting the tops. Its broad temperature tolerance means it also suits unheated setups.

In the wild

A collector milfoil linked by its trade name to the Roraima region of northern Brazil, though no precise wild locality is documented. It forms upright stems of feathery whorled leaves and reddish-brown stems, and tolerates a wide temperature band including cool water.

Good to know

An undescribed Myriophyllum sometimes mislabeled as a form of Myriophyllum aquaticum, but the aquarium plant is not that species. It first spread through Japanese aquascaping around 2010 before reaching Europe. It belongs to the watermilfoil family Haloragaceae.

Did you know

Unlike the fussier Myriophyllum tuberculatum, Roraima will color up and grow in cooler water, so it is one of the few red stem plants that can be kept in a coldwater or lightly heated aquarium.