One species · 9 forms
Rotala rotundifolia varieties
Rotala rotundifolia
Rotala rotundifolia is the hobby's default stem plant: fast, forgiving and endlessly cuttable. The named forms are selections and regional collections of that one species, split by how much color they show and how much light it takes to get it.
Pick a variety
color follows lightEasygoing forms · any planted tank
High-color forms · strong light and regular trimming
What changes with the high-color forms
Underneath the color they are the same fast, skinny stem. The high-color lines were selected for red that only develops under strong light with iron on tap; in a modest setup they slide back toward green.
Color follows light
All rotundifolia forms decide their color by conditions: light intensity first, then iron and how lean the water is on nitrate. The standard form stays green with pink tips in most tanks, while Colorata, Orange Juice and Blood Red were picked out precisely because they turn orange to crimson once the light is strong enough.
Trim it like a hedge
Rotala grows toward the light and bares its lower stems if left alone. Top the stems every couple of weeks, replant the cuttings in front, and the stand thickens into the dense bush the plant is famous for. It is nearly impossible to over-trim.
Names from everywhere
Ceylon is the old name for Sri Lanka, Wayanad is a district in Kerala, Manipurensis points to Manipur in northeast India, and H'ra came out of Vietnam, where it is also sold as Gia Lai: regional collections of the same species. Colorata, Orange Juice and Blood Red are nursery selections named for their color. All of them are Rotala rotundifolia, whatever the shop tag says.
Common questions
Which rotala stays red?
None of them is red on its own; the high-color forms hold red only under strong light with iron in the water. Blood Red goes the deepest, and it is also the most demanding of the group.
Why is my rotala green at the bottom?
The lower leaves are shaded by the canopy above. Trim the tops and replant them; the fresh, well-lit growth carries the color.
Is rotala good for beginners?
Rotundifolia, Green and Ceylon are among the best first stem plants there are. The high-color forms are better saved for tanks with strong light and CO2.
Related plants
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