Ludwigia repens | Beginner-Friendly Red Aquarium Plant

Looking for a nice background plant for your aquascape, but don't want to go for boring green? We've got just the thing for you: the colorful water primrose, better known in the aquarium as Ludwigia repens. Its coppery-red leaves make this aquarium plant perfect to add that pop of color every tank needs!

Below, find out how to grow Ludwigia repens and how to make sure yours keeps its beautiful shades of red.

What is Ludwigia repens?

Ludwigia repens is a species of creeping plant in the family Onagraceae, the evening primroses. It's naturally found in the far southern USA, Mexico, parts of Central America, and some Caribbean islands. Here, it occurs in wetland habitats. Its ability to adapt to grow both terrestrially and underwater makes it an excellent choice for the planted aquarium.

Aquarists appreciate L. repens for its colorful foliage and bushy growth pattern. The stems can reach up to 20" in height and sport oval to elongated leaves in shades of green, copper, and bright reddish-pink (the latter two especially near the top of the plant) This aquarium plant is particularly popular for Dutch-style aquascapes, which go heavy on the stem plants and colors. It can form dense mats.

Did you know? Ludwigia repens is hardy and prolific, which gives it strong invasive potential. Indeed, one study places water primroses "among the most aggressive aquatic invasive plant invaders in the world"! It has already naturalized in areas like the East Coast and Pacific Western US, as well as various European countries, damaging local ecosystems. We urge you to be a responsible aquarist and prevent exotic plants from getting out into the wild, where they can wreak havoc.

Ludwigia repens varieties

This is a classic aquarium plant that, nowadays, comes in various different selectively cultivated varieties (cultivars). The wild form is mostly green with a hint of bronze, whereas cultivars have often been produced specifically to feature brighter coloration.

Ludwigia repens varieties you may come across at your local aquarium store include:

• L. repens 'Super Red': the most striking cultivar, which can take on a uniform, dark pinkish-red color under the right lighting.
• L. repens 'Mini Super Red': dwarf variety alert! Doesn't usually reach over 6" in length.
• L. repens 'Dark Red': deeper, more wine red coloration than 'Super Red'.
• Ludwigia repens 'Rubin': with coppery-red stems, plus copper-colored leaves with hints of green (depending on the light levels)

There's also a hybrid variety called Ludwigia repens × arcuata, which is a cross between these two species. It has longer, more pointed foliage than normal L. repens.

Ludwigia repens requirements

Ludwigia repens is usually considered a "moderately" difficult aquarium plant to grow. This mostly has to do with the fact that it does require quite a bit of light; without proper brightness, it can lose its color and become spindly and weak. However, these light levels aren't always easy to balance. Although this plant doesn't necessarily need added Co2 to thrive, algae growth can become a problem in tanks with a lot of light but no Co2 dosing.

If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, one thing you can consider is opting for wild form of Ludwigia repens. As its foliage is usually more green than red, it has more chlorophyll and therefore doesn't need quite as much light as the "fancy" varieties to thrive. This makes it more suitable for low-tech set-ups, although if things really get too dark, the plant can begin to drop its lower leaves and start looking distinctly spindly.

L. repens will appreciate regular nutrient dosing. Prune your plant regularly to keep it looking nice and bushy, replanting the clippings to expand your Ludwigia "forest".

Ludwigia repens uses

As we've mentioned, this plant is commonly used in Dutch-style aquascapes. Aquarists particularly appreciate the red varieties, which under strong lighting provide a spectacular pop of color. However, you can use this species in pretty much any tank: the lovely green to bronze gradient on its foliage makes it a real eye-catcher.

Normal L. repens varieties are best used as background plants, preferably in tanks of 10 gallons and up. The 'Mini Super Red' variety is suitable for smaller aquariums and can be employed as a foreground or accent plant.

Buying Ludwigia repens

Because Ludwigia repens is such a popular aquarium plant, you should be able to find at least one or two varieties are most specialized aquarium stores. Look for lab-grown (in-vitro) plants if you want to be 100% sure they're free of pests like snails.

You can also find this plant for sale online! The Shrimp Farm sells both regular and lab-grown Ludwigia repens and ships it right to your doorstep, ready to use in your tank.

Tip: Most nurseries grow their Ludwigia repens above water (emersed). Once you place it in your tank, some melting can occur as the plant adjusts to life underwater. This is normal and nothing to worry about; it'll grow back!