Very variable, easy marsh plant found in boggy places almost worldwide; green to orange-red or cherry-red depending on form and light, and adaptable to a wide temperature range.
Needs
Care levelEasy
LightMedium
CO₂Not needed
GrowthFast
HeightUp to 30 cm
Temperature22–26 °C
WhereMiddle of the tank
Feeds throughLeaves, from the water
FamilyOnagraceae
Native toNear-cosmopolitan in wetlands: much of North and Central America and the Caribbean, Venezuela and Colombia, Europe, North and southern Africa, Türkiye to Iran and the Caucasus; introduced in Hawaii, Bermuda and south-eastern Australia
Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. See sources
How to keep it
Plenty of light (moderate light gives spindly, greenish stems)
Cut and replant tops; the remaining stem branches heavily
Nitrate/phosphate, micronutrients and CO2 are optional but make it sturdier and redder
