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Rotala H'ra

Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra'

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

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Care at a glance

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

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.

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

High-light plants · Background plants · Stem plants · Fast growers · Red plants

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