Persicaria kawagoeanum

Care at a glance

Overview

Give it strong light and a good macro and micro nutrient supply to bring out the orange-red to pink tones, with CO2 injection making a noticeable difference. It branches at short intervals into an easy bush, and it tends to drop lower leaves, so hide the bare stem bases behind driftwood or midground plants. Trim and replant the healthy tops to keep it compact.

In the wild

The exact wild origin of this stem plant is unclear, but it is generally thought to come from East Asia. It grows in the aggressive branching style typical of Persicaria, forming a dense low bush rather than a single tall stem, and can be grown both submersed and emersed.

Good to know

It belongs to the knotweed family Polygonaceae and circulates in the hobby under the informal name Persicaria sp. 'Kawagoeanum', so it has never been tied to a firmly accepted species epithet. The narrow lance-shaped leaves reach roughly 8 to 12 cm long and 0.6 to 1 cm wide, giving it a willow-leaf look.

Did you know

Under bright light and good nutrients the normally green willow-like leaves flush to glowing orange-red and pink, one of the more dramatic color shifts among the willow-leaf stem plants.

Related plants

• Persicaria Sao Paulo

  Persicaria sp. 'Sao Paulo'

  High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)

• 

  Ambulia

  Limnophila sessiliflora

  Low lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Giant bacopa

  Bacopa caroliniana

  Low lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Hygrophila guianensis

  Hygrophila guianensis

  Medium lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Limnophila aromatica

  Limnophila aromatica

  High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia glandulosa

  Ludwigia glandulosa

  High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)