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Form of Rotala rotundifolia

Rotala H'ra

Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra'

One of 8 forms of Rotala rotundifolia · See all forms →

Also known as Rotala sp. 'H'ra', Rotala rotundifolia Hra, Rotala 'Hra', Rotala Vietnam, Rotala sp. 'Vietnam', Rotala rotundifolia 'Vietnam H'ra'

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Rotala H'ra (Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Forms · Rotala rotundifolia

See all 8 →

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
11.8 in
30 cm
Growth rate
Fast
Placement
Background
Type
Stem
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
1–12 dGH
Spread
2 in (5 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Lythraceae
Origin
Aquarium strain of Rotala rotundifolia, native to Southeast Asia

Overview

A fast background stem grown in dense groups for a bushy red-orange top. It is forgiving of water parameters but needs high light to colour up, and at that light level CO2 becomes effectively necessary to keep growth ahead of algae. Push colour with strong light, CO2 around 30 ppm and low nitrate; rich nitrate turns it more yellow-green. Top and replant regularly, since it grows quickly and the lower stems shade out if left untrimmed.

In the wild

Rotala rotundifolia is a wetland plant from Southeast Asia, found in rice paddies, ditches and marshy ground where it grows emersed with round leaves before going needle-leaved underwater. 'H'ra' is a selected aquarium form, not a wild population, and is prized for stronger orange-red colour than the standard species. Like its parent it tolerates a wide range of water but shows its best colour under intense light.

Good to know

A member of Lythraceae, the loosestrife family. The species name rotundifolia (round-leaved) refers to the emersed growth; submersed shoots produce slender, almost needle-like leaves that look nothing like the round emersed form. 'H'ra' was distributed from Vietnam and is one of several named colour selections of R. rotundifolia in the hobby.

Did you know

Did you know the colour is driven as much by what you withhold as what you add. Keeping nitrate deliberately low is what tips Rotala H'ra from green into its signature orange-red, even with everything else dialled in.

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