Rotala Green

Care at a glance

Overview

An easy, fast bushy stem that works well as a background filler and is a common starter plant. It grows fine in medium light without CO2, though injected CO2 gives denser, more compact growth. Plant it in large groups and trim often, replanting the cut tops to thicken the stand.

In the wild

A green form of the widespread Asian Rotala rotundifolia, found across marshes, rice paddies and stream margins from India through Southeast Asia. Like the species it grows emersed on wet mud, where it produces round leaves and pink flower spikes.

Good to know

A member of the loosestrife family, Lythraceae. Unlike the standard Rotala rotundifolia, the 'Green' variety keeps its leaves purely green even under intense light rather than flushing red or orange. The submersed form shows only two narrow leaves per node and a characteristic weeping, hanging habit.

Did you know

Did you know Rotala 'Green' is one of the few Rotala forms that stays green no matter how bright the light, which is exactly why aquascapers use it as a color contrast against red stems.

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