Rotala rotundifolia
Rotala rotundifolia
Also known as Dwarf Rotala, Roundleaf Toothcup, Rotala indica (trade misnomer)
Care at a glance
- Light
- Medium light
- CO2
- CO₂ beneficial
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Placement
- Background
- Type
- Stem
- Temperature
- 68–82°F (20–28°C)
- pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hardness
- 4–15 dGH
- Max height
- 19.7 in (50 cm)
- Spread
- 2 in (5 cm)
- Nutrient uptake
- Root + water column
- Growth region
- Submersed or emersed
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Origin
- South, Southeast and East Asia
- Family
- Lythraceae
Overview
A classic background and mid-ground stem plant, planted by pushing individual stems into the substrate a couple centimeters apart. It is forgiving and will grow in low tech tanks once acclimated, but it shows its best density and the pink-to-red tops under stronger light, CO2, and lean nitrate with good iron and micros. Trim and replant the cut tops to bush it out; left untrimmed it grows fast, reaches the surface, and shades out the lower stems.
In the wild
Grows across South, Southeast and East Asia in swamps, ditches, riversides and rice paddies. In the wild it spends much of its life emersed in shallow, often soft to moderately hard water, only becoming fully aquatic when the water rises. The emersed and submersed forms look noticeably different, with the submersed growth producing the narrow green-to-pink leaves hobbyists know.
Good to know
A member of the loosestrife family, Lythraceae. The leaf shape is variable: emersed plants have rounder leaves (the source of the name rotundifolia, meaning round-leaved), while submersed stems put out much narrower leaves. It is frequently confused with and sold as Rotala indica, but the two are distinct species. Grows as upright stems with opposite or whorled leaves rather than from runners.
Did you know
Its color is driven as much by fertilizer balance as by light. Keepers chasing the pinkest tops deliberately run low nitrate with high light, iron, and micronutrients, since rich nitrate keeps the plant green.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Glass Aqua Aquascaping plants and planted tank supplies
- Buce Plant Aquatic plants and aquascaping supplies
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Background plants · Stem plants · Beginner plants · Fast growers
Growing Rotala rotundifolia?
Track your planted tank, set reminders and plan your layout.
Related plants
Rotala macrandra
Rotala macrandraHigh lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Rotala Ceylon
Rotala rotundifolia 'Ceylon'Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)Rotala Green
Rotala rotundifolia 'Green'Medium lightBackground19.7 in (50 cm)
Rotala ramosior
Rotala ramosiorHigh lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala Colorata
Rotala rotundifolia 'Colorata'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)Rotala macrandra Bangladesh
Rotala macrandra 'Bangladesh'High lightBackground15.7 in (40 cm)