TCulture Rotala Macrandra (Pot/TC Cup)

Long-known beautifully coloured stem plant from the south of India. It has undulate soft longish ovoid leaves.

Common names
Giant Red Rotala

Complete botanical name

Rotála macrándra Koehne

Family
Lythraceae

Genus
Rotala

Difficulty
medium

Usage
Accent (red), Background, Midground, Street (Dutch style)

Aquascaping
very colourful plant for accents

Growth
fast

pH value
4 – 7

Temperature tolerance
18 – 30°C

Carbonate hardness
0 – 12°dKH

General hardness
0 – 30°dGH

Propagation
Cuttings

Can grow emersed?
yes

Rotala Macrandra (Giant Red Rotala) in Singapore Tanks

Rotala macrandra is one of the most spectacular red stem plants we stock, with soft, wavy, rounded leaves that glow pink to deep crimson under the right conditions. We rate it as a medium-difficulty plant: rewarding for aquascapers ready to dial in their tank, but demanding enough that it shows you quickly when light or nutrients fall short. It makes a breathtaking colour accent in a Dutch-style or nature layout.

To hold that vivid red, give it strong lighting, reliable CO2, and a steady supply of nutrients including iron. In soft, slightly acidic water like much of our local tap supply once dechlorinated, it tends to colour up well. It is comfortable across our warm temperature range, but unstable parameters or shading will cause the lower leaves to drop, so consistency matters more than chasing extremes.

Trim and replant healthy tops regularly to keep the stand dense and the colour concentrated up top. See our Rotala macrandra care guide and tips on growing red aquarium plants, and explore more in our background plants range.