Rotala rotundifolia: grower data, red color and pruning
A South-East Asian stem plant that Tropica rates easy, with low light and CO2 demand and medium growth [1], while Aquasabi rates its 'Green' form medium difficulty with medium light and added CO2 [2]. Both agree it branches readily and needs regular pruning.
Grower data
As published by Tropica Aquarium Plants[1]
- Light demand
- LowTropica: medium light demand is 0.5 W/L.
- CO2 demand
- LowTropica: medium need 6–14 mg/L; high approx. 15–25 mg/L.
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Difficulty
- Easy
| Type | Stem |
|---|---|
| Origin (grower) | Asia |
| Height after two months | 15 - 30+ cm |
| Placement | midground, background[2] |
| 'Green' form: difficulty / light / CO2 (second grower) | Medium / medium / yes[2] |
| 'Green' form: growth and care height (second grower) | Fast, 15–60 cm[2] |
| Water hardness (maximum), 'Green' form | Hard[2] |
Name and range
- Accepted name
- Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Koehne[4]
- Family
- Lythraceae
- Native range
- Assam, Bangladesh, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand and 2 more regions
- Introduced in
- Alabama, Brazil Southeast, Florida, Queensland
- Records
- WCVP via GBIF and POWO
What the grower data says
The two growers cited here do not rate this plant the same way, and the difference is worth seeing before you buy.
| Tropica (species) | Aquasabi (‘Green’ form) | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Light | Low | Medium |
| CO2 | Low | Yes, added |
| Growth | Medium | Fast |
| Height | 15–30+ cm | 15–60 cm |
Part of the gap is that they rate different plants: Tropica rates the species as it sells it, Aquasabi a named green form. Tropica’s own description also explains why ratings for this plant vary: it calls Rotala rotundifolia relatively undemanding, unlike other Rotala species, but adds that it needs good light to produce red leaves [1]. A plant that survives at low light but colors up only at higher light can honestly be rated either way, depending on whether the rating describes survival or appearance.
Placement and planting
Aquasabi lists the ‘Green’ form for the middle ground and background, for nano tanks and for the “street” rows of Dutch-style layouts [2]. Tropica’s height rating, 15–30 cm or more after two months [1], fits the middle and back of most tanks.
Growth and pruning
The plant forms side shoots willingly and becomes compact and bushy [1]. Tropica points out the drawback: a dense group makes it hard for light to reach the lower leaves, so the plant should be pruned frequently [1].
Why “round-leaved”?
The species name means “the plant with the round leaves”, yet the leaves you see in an aquarium are long and narrow. Tropica explains that the name only applies to the marsh form, which has circular leaves [1]. Submerged, it makes a different leaf shape. The emersed-to-submersed guide covers why nursery plants change leaf form after planting.
Names and taxonomy
The World Checklist of Vascular Plants accepts Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Koehne in the loosestrife family Lythraceae, with Ammannia rotundifolia Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb. as the original name and synonyms in Ameletia and Mirkooa [4]. Tropica notes that it is “also known as Rotala indica” [1]. That is a trade name only: WCVP treats Rotala indica (Willd.) Koehne as a separate accepted species [3].
WCVP gives the native range as South and East Asia, from the western Himalaya, India, Nepal and Bangladesh to southern China, Taiwan, Japan, the Nansei-shoto islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam [4, 5]. It records introduced populations in Alabama, Florida, south-east Brazil and Queensland [4]. Trimmings should never go into drains or outdoor water; see invasive aquarium plants and safe disposal.
Questions
Why is my Rotala rotundifolia green instead of red?
Tropica says it needs good light to produce red leaves [1]; under lower light it stays green.
Similar plants
Related guides
- CO2 & lightCO2 from KH and pH: the formula, the chart and where it breaksWhere the KH/pH/CO2 chart comes from, why its factor of 3 differs from the temperature-corrected 3.5, and the conditions under which both estimates fail.
- CO2 & lightWhat low, medium and high light and CO2 mean in grower plant dataTropica's light and CO2 ratings, the definitions behind them, the three different CO2 bands on its own pages, and how Aquasabi's categories line up.
- Algae & problemsNutrient deficiency symptoms in aquarium plants: a symptom keyRead deficiency symptoms by where they start: old leaves for mobile nutrients, new growth for immobile ones. A symptom table with extension and grower sources.
Compare it with the other profiled plants in the plant parameter table.
Sources
- Rotala rotundifolia (plant details, 033). Tropica Aquarium Plants. Type, origin, growth, height, light, CO2 and difficulty; description: name refers to the round leaves of the marsh form, 15–30 cm stems, needs good light for red leaves, branches readily, prune often, also known as Rotala indica. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Rotala rotundifolia 'Green' (Aquarium Plant Profile). Aquasabi. Placement: middle ground, background, nano aquarium, Dutch-style street; medium difficulty; fast; medium light; hardness up to hard; 15–60 cm; CO2 yes. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Rotala indica: names in the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (GBIF API search). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, via GBIF. Rotala indica (Willd.) Koehne is an accepted species, separate from R. rotundifolia. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Koehne: World Checklist of Vascular Plants record (via GBIF). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; dataset published 2026-06-04, CC BY 4.0. Accepted name, family, synonyms, native and introduced range. Accessed October 12, 2026.
- Rotala rotundifolia: Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Addressed by IPNI identifier 554223-1; POWO displays the same WCVP data. Accessed October 12, 2026.