Red aquarium plants

Red plants are the contrast in a planted tank, from a single tiger lotus to a whole bank of red stems. Most stay green in low light and only turn red under strong lighting, CO2 and iron, so the color rewards a well-run tank rather than coming for free. This list gathers the reliable reds and oranges, from rotala and ludwigia to alternanthera and red swords. Each profile lists the light and CO2 a plant needs.

40 plants

• 

  Aflame sword

  Echinodorus 'Aflame'

  High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Alternanthera reineckii

  Alternanthera reineckii

  High lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)
• Alternanthera reineckii mini

  Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini'

  Medium lightForeground3.9 in (10 cm)

• 

  Alternanthera Rosanervig

  Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosanervig'

  Medium lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)

• 

  Ammannia Bonsai

  Ammannia sp. 'Bonsai'

  High lightMidground7.9 in (20 cm)

• 

  Ammannia gracilis

  Ammannia gracilis

  High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)

• 

  Ammannia senegalensis

  Ammannia senegalensis

  High lightMidground17.7 in (45 cm)
• Bucephalandra Red

  Bucephalandra sp. 'Red'

  Low lightEpiphyte3.9 in (10 cm)

• 

  Cryptocoryne wendtii red

  Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Red'

  Low lightMidground5.9 in (15 cm)

• 

  Dwarf aquarium lily

  Nymphaea nouchali

  Medium lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
• Hadi Red Pearl sword

  Echinodorus 'Hadi Red Pearl'

  Medium lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia arcuata

  Ludwigia arcuata

  High lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia brevipes

  Ludwigia brevipes

  High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
• Ludwigia Cuba

  Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Cuba'

  High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia glandulosa

  Ludwigia glandulosa

  High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia ovalis

  Ludwigia ovalis

  Medium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia palustris

  Ludwigia palustris

  Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia Pantanal

  Ludwigia inclinata var. verticillata 'Pantanal'

  High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia repens

  Ludwigia repens

  Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)

• 

  Ludwigia Rubin

  Ludwigia repens 'Rubin'

  Medium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)
• Ludwigia super red

  Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red'

  High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Mermaid weed

  Proserpinaca palustris

  High lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Micrantha lily

  Nymphaea micrantha

  Medium lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)

• 

  Nesaea crassicaulis

  Ammannia crassicaulis

  High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
• Nesaea pedicellata Golden

  Ammannia pedicellata

  High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)

• 

  Red cabomba

  Cabomba furcata

  High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
• Red Devil sword

  Echinodorus 'Red Devil'

  Medium lightMidground11.8 in (30 cm)
• Red myriophyllum

  Myriophyllum tuberculatum

  High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Red root floater

  Phyllanthus fluitans

  High lightFloating1.2 in (3 cm)
• Red rubin sword

  Echinodorus 'Red Rubin'

  Medium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)

• 

  Red tiger lotus

  Nymphaea lotus

  Medium lightMidground23.6 in (60 cm)

• 

  Red water lily

  Nymphaea rubra

  Medium lightMidground23.6 in (60 cm)
• Rotala Blood Red

  Rotala rotundifolia 'Blood Red'

  High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)
• Rotala H'ra

  Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra'

  High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Rotala macrandra

  Rotala macrandra

  High lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
• Rotala macrandra Bangladesh

  Rotala macrandra 'Bangladesh'

  High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)
• Rotala macrandra Mini Butterfly

  Rotala macrandra 'Mini'

  High lightMidground9.8 in (25 cm)
• Rotala Orange Juice

  Rotala rotundifolia 'Orange Juice'

  High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Rotala wallichii

  Rotala wallichii

  High lightBackground11.8 in (30 cm)

• 

  Tiger lotus

  Nymphaea zenkeri

  Medium lightMidground19.7 in (50 cm)