TankBud

Nesaea crassicaulis

Ammannia crassicaulis

Also known as Ammania crassicaulis, Red stem nesaea, Thick-stemmed ammannia

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Nesaea crassicaulis (Ammannia crassicaulis)
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
19.7 in
50 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–12 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Lythraceae
Origin
Native to swamps, marshes, and seasonally flooded ground in tropical East Africa.

Overview

This is a high-light plant that colors up and stays full only under bright, unobstructed lighting with CO2 and good fertilization. Space the stems so light reaches the lower leaves, otherwise the bottoms go bare. Use it as a background accent and take cuttings from healthy tops to propagate.

In the wild

This robust stem plant bears whorls of narrow leaves that range from olive green on top to reddish brown and copper below. It grows in African swamps and marshes that flood seasonally, emerging above the water to flower. Strong stems and close leaf spacing make it a bold background accent.

Good to know

Now placed in the genus Ammannia within the loosestrife family, Lythraceae, this plant is still widely sold under its former name Nesaea crassicaulis. The genus Nesaea was merged into Ammannia after botanical revision. It is related to the toothcups and other red aquarium stems.

Did you know

It is still sold almost everywhere as Nesaea crassicaulis even though botanists moved it into the genus Ammannia years ago.

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