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Plants / Stem Plants
Limnophila aromatica
Stem Plants

Limnophila aromatica

Limnophila aromatica

Rice paddy herb: an aromatic marsh plant whose crushed leaves smell of citrus (limonene) and that is eaten as a herb in South-East Asian cooking. True L. aromatica has 2-3 leaves per node and varies from green to reddish. The red plant with purple-pink leaf undersides sold under this name is usually L. hippuridoides.

Needs

Care levelModerate
LightHigh
CO₂Helps
GrowthFast
HeightUp to 50 cm
Temperature22–27 °C
WhereBack of the tank
Feeds throughLeaves, from the water
FamilyPlantaginaceae
Native toTropical and subtropical Asia to northern Australia: India (Assam), Bangladesh, Himalaya, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indochina, Malaya, Java, Philippines, southern China, Hainan, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Islands, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. Introduced in New Caledonia.
Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. See sources

How to keep it

  • Bright light
  • Add CO2 for good colour
  • Feed nitrate, phosphate and micronutrients, and use a rich substrate (root feeder)
  • Thin out old long shoots and replant the tops
  • Low light
  • Low nutrients, especially iron

Sources

14 facts checked with sources

  • Scientific namePlants of the World Online (Kew) name search: Limnophila aromatica · Flowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Flowgrow plant database: Limnophila hippuridoides · Plants of the World Online (Kew) name search: Limnophila hippuridoides
  • FamilycorrectedPlants of the World Online (Kew) name search: Limnophila aromatica · Flowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb
  • Native rangecorrectedPlants of the World Online (Kew): Limnophila aromatica distribution · Flowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb
  • Plant typeFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Tropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C)
  • LightFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Flowgrow plant database: Limnophila hippuridoides · Tropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C)
  • CO₂correctedFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Tropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C) · Tropica plant search: Limnophila
  • GrowthFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Flowgrow plant database: Limnophila hippuridoides · Tropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C)
  • Care levelFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Tropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C)
  • HeightcorrectedTropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C)
  • TemperaturecorrectedFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb
  • Where to plantFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb
  • Water or land plantcorrectedFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb
  • AboutcorrectedFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Tropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C)
  • Care tipscorrectedFlowgrow plant database: Limnophila aromatica - Rice paddy herb · Flowgrow plant database: Limnophila hippuridoides · Tropica: Limnophila hippuridoides (047C)