Rotala H'ra care guide
Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra' · Lythraceae
Rotala H'ra (Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra') is an aquatic plant. It belongs to the Lythraceae family. It is native to A trade form of Rotala rotundifolia collected near the hamlet of H'ra, Gia Lai, in Vietnam's Central Highlands; the species grows in rice paddies and marshes across South and East Asia. It needs medium to high light. Water temperature: 22°C – 28°C. pH: 6.0 – 7.5. Care difficulty: Moderate. Growth rate: fast.
How do you care for Rotala H'ra?
| Light | Medium to High (medium keeps it alive; strong light is what brings out the orange-red — it stays mostly green under weak light) |
|---|---|
| CO₂ | Recommended (sources range from medium CO₂ demand to “mandatory for colour”) |
| Temperature | 22°C – 28°C |
| pH | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Placement | Midground in dense bushes; kept low it can form an orange cushion toward the foreground |
| Growth | Fast |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Family | Lythraceae |
How do you trim and propagate Rotala H'ra?
Top the stems or side shoots once they reach the height you want; cutting just above a node makes the stem branch into a denser bush. Growth arches toward horizontal, so trim often so the canopy does not shade the base. Propagate by replanting the cut tops and side shoots (strip the lowest leaves and set stems individually a few cm apart).
What problems affect Rotala H'ra?
Bare lower stems from too little light at the base (crowding or shading by taller plants); stays green or pale from low light, CO₂ or iron; stems melt after planting from unstable water or the switch from farm-grown emersed to submersed growth; stunted tips and yellow or dead leaves from low nitrate, iron/trace shortage or low CO₂.
How do you fix Rotala H'ra problems?
Thin and space the stems and top them more often; raise light and add CO₂ plus trace/iron dosing; keep parameters stable and accept some loss of emersed leaves while submersed growth forms; correct fertiliser and CO₂. Aquasoil or root tabs help on an inert substrate.
Where does Rotala H'ra come from?
A trade form of Rotala rotundifolia collected near the hamlet of H'ra, Gia Lai, in Vietnam's Central Highlands; the species grows in rice paddies and marshes across South and East Asia
What should you know before buying Rotala H'ra?
The species Rotala rotundifolia is invasive in southern Florida (FLEPPC Category II): it escaped from the aquarium and water-garden trade, forms dense mats and spreads from fragments. Never discard trimmings into natural waters.
Sources
- Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Koehne - World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew) via GBIF — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew / GBIF
- Rotala rotundifolia "H'Ra" ("Gia Lai") — Flowgrow Aquatic Plant Database
- Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra' — Tropica Aquarium Plants
- Rotala H'Ra - Aquarium Stem Plant — Buce Plant
- Care Guide: Rotala H'ra — Hygronature
- Rotala Rotundifolia Care Guide — Shrimp and Snail Breeder
- Rotala rotundifolia — Tropica Aquarium Plants
- SS-AGR-376/AG381: Rotala: A New Aquatic Invader in Southern Florida — UF/IFAS Extension
Care details checked against these sources on 2026-09-23.
Which aquascapes and tanks use Rotala H'ra?
- Balancing light, CO₂ and fertiliser in a planted tank
- Dutch aquarium style: plant streets and rules
- Nature Aquarium style: layout rules and setup
- Wabi-kusa: how to make and grow an emersed plant ball
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