Rotala Rotundifolia ‘Blood Red’

 Rotala rotundifolia’ Blood red’ belongs to the Lythraceae family and is native to Southeast China. True to its name, the intense red color of the leaves is what makes it extremely attractive among aquatic plants. Even though ‘Rotala’ means ‘plant with round leaves,’ this variety is an exception due to long and narrow leaf patterns. The plant is bushy and has 15 to 30 long stems that are 2 to 3 cm wide. Since it attains a bushy structure, regular pruning is necessary to allow light to reach the lower leaves.

Unlike most other Rotala species, ‘blood red’ is undemanding. All it requires is high light conditions to bring flashy red color to its leaves. It is a fast-growing aquatic plant, suitable as a mid-ground or background plant. It brings stunning contrast with other green species in the tank and performs well under good water conditions. Rotala rotundifolia’ Blood red’ can be propagated through head cuttings or side shoots.