Alternanthera aquatica
Alternanthera aquatica (D.Parodi) Chodat
Save this plant or add it directly to one of your aquariums.
Need help with Alternanthera aquatica?
Explore compatibility, care or problems using this guide and your aquarium’s conditions.
Planting & care
- PlacementFloating
- Growth typeFloating plant
- LightMedium
- CO2None
About this plant
Alternanthera aquatica is an unusual floating stem plant from tropical South America, adapted to quiet river margins, lakeshores and marshes. Its thickened, air-filled internodes keep the sprawling shoots buoyant, while roots may anchor in nutrient-rich mud when they reach the substrate. In an open aquarium or paludarium, the plant develops broad green foliage and long branching stems that can quickly occupy the water surface. Regular pruning is essential, especially in smaller tanks. Medium to strong light supports sturdy growth, while additional carbon dioxide is optional rather than essential. Cut sections root readily and can be replanted or left floating. Because of its eventual size, Alternanthera aquatica is best treated as a botanical feature for spacious, open setups rather than a compact background plant.
Quick specs
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Light
- Medium
- CO₂
- None
- Temperature
- 64–86°F (18–30°C)
- Placement
- Floating
- Growth type
- Floating plant
- Aquarium suitability
- Suitable for aquariums Suitable for long-term aquarium use.
Water conditions
Plant reference ranges, not dosing instructions or measurements from your aquarium. Consider livestock needs and measured conditions.
- Temperature
- 64–86°F (18–30°C)
- pH
- 5–8
- Carbonate hardness
- 0–21 °dKH
- CO₂ (mg/L)
- 0–40 mg/L
Growth & placement
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Width
- 4.7–5.5" (12–14 cm)
- Propagation
- Cuttings
- Color
- Green
Grow it successfully
What you’ll need to grow Alternanthera aquatica
Start with this plant’s documented care needs, then use an AquariumLesson calculator to size the setup for your aquarium.
Taxonomy
- Major group
- Angiosperms
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus
- Alternanthera
- Botanical name
- Alternanthera aquatica (D.Parodi) Chodat
