Species Catalogue

A large genus of fast-growing stem plants widely used in aquascaping for their fine, needle-like to rounded leaves and tendency to display brilliant red, pink, and orange coloration under high light and CO2 injection. Rotala species are excellent nutrient consumers that help control algae, but most species require medium to high light and CO2 supplementation to achieve their best coloration and compact growth.

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.

Rotala Bonsai is a compact, slow-growing stem plant prized for its miniature leaf structure and ability to form dense, tree-like formations with careful pruning. It displays green to reddish foliage depending on lighting and nutrient availability, making it ideal for aquascaping focal points in small to medium tanks.

Delicate rotala with needle-fine leaves that develop intense red colouration. Demanding but one of the finest textured stem plants available.

Unique rotala with broad, rounded leaves that alternate in a pinwheel pattern. Turns pink to red under high light. A collector's plant.

Bright pink-red rotala that's easier than most coloured stem plants. Fine leaves and compact growth under good light.

Compact rotala with small rounded leaves that turn pink-orange under intense light. Forms dense bushes ideal for midground.

Versatile rotala with green to pink stems depending on light intensity. Fast-growing and relatively undemanding for a coloured stem plant.

Rotala H'ra is a popular cultivar producing small, narrow leaves that shift from green at their bases to vivid orange-red at the tips under high light, creating a stunning gradient effect in background plantings. It is less demanding than R. macrandra but rewards CO2 injection and iron dosing with exceptional coloration. Its fine texture and warm orange tones make it one of the most sought-after rotala varieties in competitive aquascaping.

Rotala Indica is an easy-going stem plant with small, oval leaves that display a pleasing pink to light-red coloration on their undersides even under moderate light — making it one of the few rotala species that beginners can achieve colour from without high-intensity lighting. It grows upright with a delicate, feathery texture and is often used as a softer alternative to R. rotundifolia in low-tech setups.

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.

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.

Rotala Macrandra Mini Red is a compact, high-color variant of the popular stem plant, featuring deep red to burgundy leaves with intricate venation patterns. This cultivar grows slower and stays smaller than standard Rotala macrandra, making it ideal for mid-sized aquascapes. The vibrant red coloration intensifies under high light and with adequate CO2 supplementation.

Rotala Macrandra Narrow Leaf is a stunning stem plant prized for its vibrant red to pink coloration on narrow, elongated leaves. This variety exhibits more slender foliage than standard Rotala macrandra, creating an elegant, feathery appearance. It is a demanding plant that requires high light, CO2 injection, and excellent water parameters to achieve its best coloration and growth.

A delicate fine-leaved stem plant native to Mexico, with small rounded leaves that take on warm pink to orange tones under high light and CO2. Best planted in dense bunches for a feathery, textured effect in the midground or background.

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.

Miniature version of Rotala Butterfly with tiny round leaves in pinwheel arrangement. Pink-red under high light. Slow-growing collector's favourite.

A delicate stem plant with small, narrow leaves that form feathery, bright green whorls. Under high light and CO2 it develops a slight pinkish tint at the growing tips. It grows vigorously and is a great mid-to-background filler, tolerating a wide range of conditions better than most Rotala species.

Stunning orange-coloured stem plant that glows under strong light. Requires high light, CO2, and good nutrients to maintain its trademark colour.

Fine-leaved rotala that develops a pearlescent pink-red hue under high light. Soft, feathery appearance creates beautiful backgrounds.

Rotala Ramosior Florida is a vibrant stem plant native to Florida with delicate, finely-divided leaves that range from green to reddish-pink depending on lighting and nutrient availability. This fast-growing variety is prized for its feathery appearance and ability to develop striking red coloration under high light conditions. It works well as a background or midground plant and is relatively forgiving for intermediate aquarists.

Rotala rotundifolia is a classic stem plant for the background and upper midground of aquascapes, producing pink to reddish tones under high light and elevated CO2. Regular pruning encourages bushy side-shoot growth. Under low light the stems grow leggy and remain green.

Rotala Rotundifolia Blood Red is a vibrant stem plant prized for its striking deep red to burgundy coloration, especially under high light conditions. The plant features small, rounded leaves arranged in opposite pairs along slender stems, creating an elegant, bushy appearance. It is a fast-growing plant that responds well to fertilization and CO2 supplementation, making it ideal for aquascapers seeking dramatic color contrast in midground to background plantings.

Rotala Rotundifolia Colorata is a vibrant stem plant prized for its striking red and pink coloration, especially under high light conditions. Its small, rounded leaves grow densely along the stem, creating an attractive bushy appearance. This variety is moderately easy to cultivate and responds well to CO2 supplementation and nutrient-rich substrates.

Rotala Rotundifolia H'ra is a vibrant stem plant variant of the popular Rotala rotundifolia, prized for its compact growth and distinctive reddish-pink coloration under high light. The H'ra cultivar produces small, rounded leaves arranged densely along the stem, creating an attractive bushy appearance. This variety is moderately demanding but rewarding for aquarists seeking colorful midground to background foliage.

Rotala Rotundifolia Orange Juice is a vibrant stem plant prized for its striking orange-red coloration, especially under high light conditions. The plant features small, rounded leaves that intensify in color when provided with adequate lighting and nutrients. It grows moderately fast and is ideal for creating colorful midground to background displays in planted aquariums.

A compact Rotala with narrow, lance-shaped leaves that turn a warm orange-red under good light and CO₂. Slower and more compact than R. rotundifolia, making it easier to maintain as a neat midground or background plant without constant trimming. The red-orange colouration develops even at moderate light levels with CO₂, making it more accessible than demanding species like R. macrandra. A versatile choice for adding red tones to mid-sized scapes.

Rotala sp. 'Green' is a popular, fast-growing, bright green stem plant with small, oval leaves. Unlike the pinkish tones of R. rotundifolia, it stays consistently lime-green even under high light, providing excellent contrast with red-leaved plants. Undemanding and fast, it is a reliable background filler for any planted tank.

Beautiful warm orange-pink rotala. Less demanding than Orange Juice but similar colour payoff. Good iron dosing intensifies colour.

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.

Rotala Vietnam H'ra is a vibrant stem plant featuring narrow, elongated leaves with striking red-orange coloration, especially under high light and CO2 enrichment. This cultivar displays excellent color intensity and a compact, bushy growth habit, making it ideal for mid-to-background placement in planted aquariums.

Rotala wallichii produces delicate, needle-like whorled leaves that turn vivid pink-red under high light with CO2 and iron supplementation. It is one of the most demanding stem plants but creates unmatched visual impact in high-tech aquascapes.