One species · 6 forms

Rotala macrandra varieties

Rotala macrandra

Rotala macrandra is the giant red rotala, a soft-water stem with tissue-paper leaves that demands strong light, CO2 and clean, fertile water. The named forms trade leaf shape and shade, not temperament: every one of them is a plant for a dialed-in tank.

Pick a variety

Care, the same for every form

Every form on this page runs on the same high-energy recipe; none of them has an easy mode.

Light: High light
CO2: CO₂ required
Type: Stem
Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 4.5–7.0

The demanding rotala

Where rotundifolia forgives, macrandra keeps score. It wants strong light, injected CO2, soft water and a steady diet of iron and micronutrients, and it reports any shortfall within days as shrinking, pale or melting tips. In return it produces some of the most saturated red foliage in the hobby.

Fragile by design

The leaves are thin enough to read through, and stems snap if handled roughly. Plant cuttings gently, keep flow moderate, and trim with scissors rather than pulling; crushed stems rot instead of branching. Shrimp and snails love grazing the soft leaves once they start to fail, so keep the plant growing faster than it decays.

Common questions

Can I grow macrandra without CO2?

Realistically, no. It survives briefly and then wastes away; every form on this page assumes injected CO2 and strong light.

Why do the leaves melt or shrink at the tips?

Macrandra shows nutrient and CO2 dips faster than almost any other plant. Check iron and micros first, then CO2 stability; a correction shows in the new growth within a week.