Flora & Fauna

The smallest aquarium plant in the world, native to Cuba. Forms a dense bright green carpet highly prized in Nature Aquariums and iwagumi layouts. Requires high light, CO₂ injection, and a nutrient-rich substrate to thrive.

Premium aquatic moss with large, firm fronds resembling tiny ferns. Grows slowly but produces a striking, almost sculptural texture unlike any other moss. Attach to rock or wood; requires high flow and clean water.

Rotala Macrandra is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful red plants in the hobby, with broad, crinkled leaves that turn vibrant crimson under optimal conditions. It is also one of the most demanding stem plants, requiring very high light, injected CO2, intensive macro and micro nutrient dosing, and soft acidic water — any deficiency quickly manifests as yellowing or failure to colour up. Rewarding for experienced planted tank keepers.

Glossostigma elatinoides was one of the first foreground carpeting plants popularised by Takashi Amano in the Nature Aquarium style. Its tiny spoon-shaped leaves form an extremely low, dense green carpet when grown under high light with CO2. Without strong light it grows upward rather than creeping, defeating the purpose. It is one of the most demanding carpeting plants but produces one of the most pristine, turf-like results when conditions are ideal.

Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cuba' (HC Cuba) holds the record as the smallest-leaved aquatic carpeting plant, with each leaf barely 0.5 mm across and stems rarely exceeding 3 cm. Under optimal conditions of high light, CO2, and soft water it forms an impossibly dense, bright-green lawn that is the holy grail of foreground carpets in aquascaping. Extremely demanding and unforgiving of parameter fluctuations, it is best suited to experienced, high-tech setups.

Narrow-leaved Ludwigia that turns deep maroon-purple under high light. One of the most intensely coloured aquatic plants available. Slow-growing but spectacular. Requires CO2 and strong light to stay compact.

Feathery stem plant that turns vivid red under high light and good fertilisation. One of the best red background plants for Nature-style aquascapes. Needs CO2 and macro/micro nutrients to colour up.

Compact Rotala with thick stems and rounded leaves that blush deep red under intense light. Rarely grows tall — ideal for creating low, dense red accent patches in aquascapes.

One of the most intensely coloured Rotala varieties available, producing deep blood-red to crimson stems and leaves that stand out dramatically in any scape. Requires the highest light levels and CO₂ of any commonly kept Rotala, along with careful nutrient management. Under suboptimal conditions the colour fades to dull orange or pink. Grown well, it creates an arresting, almost unreal red that elevates competition-level scapes.

A miniaturised form of the famously demanding Giant Red Rotala, producing smaller, narrower leaves but retaining the same intense red-pink colouration when kept in optimal conditions. Requires high light, CO₂, and balanced macro and micro nutrients — particularly iron — to achieve its best colour. Grows slower than the standard species but is equally sensitive to nutrient deficiencies, which show as pale or washed-out leaves. Best kept by experienced planted tank hobbyists.

A feathery, needle-leaved Rotala from Brazil producing hair-fine, almost pine-needle-like leaves in green-orange to reddish tones. The extremely fine leaf texture creates a soft, cloud-like effect in the midground or background that is highly distinctive in competition aquascaping. Demands high light, CO₂, and soft, acidic water to thrive and colour up. One of the most visually unique stem plants in the hobby — a collectors' favourite.

One of the most sought-after Rotala species in competitive aquascaping. Produces fine, needle-like leaves and deep pink-to-red colouring. Requires pristine water, high light, CO2, and regular trimming to maintain shape.

Carnivorous aquatic plant used as a fine-leaved carpet alternative. Forms a delicate bright-green lawn. Requires CO2, high light, and soft water. Rewarding when established.

Stunning cold-water stem plant with whorls of feathery leaves. One of the most beautiful temperate aquarium plants. Challenging to keep in tropical tanks — prefers cool, clear, well-oxygenated water.

Delicate, feathery pink-to-red stem plant. One of the most visually striking rotala species. Demanding — needs high light, CO2 injection, and pristine water to colour up.