Senegal tea plant

Gymnocoronis spilanthoides

Also known as Senegal tea, Gymnocoronis, Spadeleaf plant

FreshwaterStemCuttingsSide shoots

Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides) — Cheng-Tao Lin · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Light: High light
CO2: No CO₂ needed
Temperature: 59–82°F; 15–28°C
Max height: 23.6 in; 60 cm

Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Background
Type: Stem
pH: 5.5–8.0
Hardness: 2–15 dGH
Spread: 7.9 in (20 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root + water column
Growth region: Submersed or emersed
Difficulty: Easy
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Native to swamps, ponds, and slow streams from Peru and Brazil south to northern Argentina in South America.

Overview

Senegal tea is undemanding but wants a lot of light, and it grows fast without CO2 while drawing heavily on water nutrients. It suits the background of larger open tanks and will grow emergent if allowed to reach the surface. Trim it often to control its rapid, sprawling growth.

In the wild

Gymnocoronis spilanthoides is a vigorous marsh plant with glossy, lance-shaped serrated leaves on thick, hollow stems. It grows emergent along ponds and slow streams, sending shoots well above the waterline and producing white flowers. Its fast growth and heavy nutrient use help starve out algae.

Good to know

Gymnocoronis spilanthoides is a member of the daisy family, Asteraceae, in the same tribe as the bonesets. Despite the common name Senegal tea it is South American, not African. Its thick, hollow stems help it grow quickly as an emergent marsh plant.

Did you know

Because it is such an aggressive grower, Gymnocoronis spilanthoides is listed as an Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern in the European Union, where importing, selling, and keeping it are banned.