Tropica Lysimachia parvifolia ‘Red’ 1-2-GROW!

Description

Under simple aquarium conditions, Lysimachia parvifolia ‘Red’ already develops a reddish coloration. With improved lighting and good nutrient availability, the leaves become increasingly intense in colour, making it an attractive accent plant in the midground or background.

The submerged leaves are small, rounded and resemble baby spinach, which is why the plant is sometimes referred to as Samolus parviflorus ‘Red’. The true Samolus parviflorus is a green aquarium plant with a very similar leaf shape, but Lysimachia parvifolia stands out due to its red hues.

Growth is upright and compact when regularly trimmed, and the plant responds well to replanting of cut shoots. Stable conditions and a balanced nutrient supply ensure the best colour development.

Outside the aquarium hobby, Lysimachia parvifolia has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as an anti-inflammatory herb.

Plant info

Origin:

Country or continent where a plant is the most common. Cultivars arise or are bred in cultivation.

Growth rate:

Growth rate of the plant compared to other aquatic plants.

Height:
5 –

Average height (cm) of the plant after two months in the tank.

Light demand:

The average or medium light demand of an aquarium plant is 0,5 W/L.

CO2 :

A medium need in CO2 is 6-14 mg/L. A high demand in CO2 is approx. 15-25 mg/L.

Lysimachia parvifolia ‘Red’ (1-2-Grow!) in Singapore tanks

This compact red stem plant is an easy way to add warm colour to a midground without committing to the demanding reds that need pristine high-tech conditions. Even under simple setups it shows a reddish cast, and with stronger light and good feeding the small, spinach-like leaves deepen further. The 1-2-Grow! cup delivers it as clean tissue culture, so you can split it into many short stems and plant them in a tight group for an instant accent.

We treat it as a stem plant despite the foreground listing: trim it often and replant the cuttings into the cluster to build density, since topped stems branch and bush out. In our warm 27-29C water it grows steadily, so regular trimming keeps it compact rather than leggy. Decent light is what unlocks the red, so place it where your fixture is strongest and not shaded by taller neighbours.

Browse our other foreground plants for layout ideas. For colour and pruning, see our guide on trimming and replanting stem plants and our plant deficiency guide if the reds look pale.