Description

Rotala rotundifolia is the stem plant most used in aquascaping to create dense masses and colour gradients at the back. Its name misleads: the submerged leaves are narrow and elongated, not round; the round ones belong to the emersed form seen in shop stock. Under intense light the tips turn pink and orange, and that colour is the reason it is planted.
Scientific name
Rotala rotundifolia
Position
Middle or Rear
Difficulty
Medium
Natural grow
High
Max height
40 cm

🌊 Water parameters

pH
5.5 - 7.5
GH
2 - 12
Temperature
22 - 28 °C
Current
Low or moderate

Requirements

Light requirements
High
Light spectrum requirements
6000 - 8000 (Kelvin)
Require CO2
Yes
Soil requirements
Nutritious sustrate

Habitats

Sources

  • GBIF
    GBIF Secretariat (2026). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei. Consultado vía GBIF.org, 2026-08. Rotala rotundifolia.

Taxonomy verified.

The aquarium care values (light, substrate, CO2 and water ranges) have no citable source: GBIF supports the taxonomy and distribution, not the cultivation. A source for plants is still to be agreed.