Red aquarium plants

Aquarium plants whose leaves the sources describe as red. Red color in aquarium plants depends on conditions, so compare light and CO₂ before choosing one for its color.

Plants
17
Height
1–20 in (3–51 cm)
Water temperature
70–82 °F (21–28 °C)
Type

15 Stem plant

2 Rosette plant

Compare all 17 side by side

All 17 red aquarium plants

Alternanthera reineckii Rosanervig stems with pink-red leaves in a home aquarium Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosanervig' Medium stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Alternanthera reineckii with deep red-purple leaves growing densely in a container Photo: V C balakrishnan, CC BY-SA 4.0 Alternanthera reineckii Medium stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Alternanthera reineckii Mini, a low bushy group of small red leaves in an aquarium foreground Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' Medium stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high lightForeground, Midground, CarpetStem plant
Ammannia gracilis stem with narrow opposite leaves, green to orange, grown submerged Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 Ammannia gracilis Difficult stem plant for high light. High light (estimated) Midground, BackgroundStem plant
Cryptocoryne wendtii Pink Flamingo rosette with pink leaves in a home aquarium Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Pink Flamingo' Easy rosette plant for low and medium light. Low–medium lightForeground, MidgroundRosette plant
Limnophila aromatica shoot tip with whorled lance-shaped leaves, growing emersed Photo: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 3.0 Limnophila aromatica Medium stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high light (estimated) Midground, BackgroundStem plant
Ludwigia arcuata emersed stems with narrow leaves and a yellow four-petalled flower Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 Ludwigia arcuata Easy stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Ludwigia ovalis small oval green leaves growing densely Photo: 葉子, CC0 Ludwigia ovalis Medium stem plant for medium light. Medium light (estimated) Foreground, MidgroundStem plant
Ludwigia repens stem with reddish leaves and white water roots, under water Photo: Show ryu., CC BY-SA 3.0 Ludwigia repens Medium stem plant for medium light. Medium lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Ludwigia palustris Super Red stems with deep red leaves in a home aquarium Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red' Easy stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Pogostemon stellatus stems with whorls of narrow leaves growing submerged Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 Pogostemon stellatus Medium stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Cabomba furcata submerged stems with reddish whorls of finely divided leaves Photo: Diogo Luiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 Red cabomba Difficult stem plant for high light. High lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Phyllanthus fluitans round floating leaves in green and red with roots below Photo: Monarchatto, CC BY-SA 4.0 Red root floater Easy rosette plant for low, medium, and high light. Low–high lightFloatingRosette plant
Rotala rotundifolia Hra stems with orange-red leaves in a home aquarium Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra' Medium stem plant for high light. High light (estimated) Midground, BackgroundStem plant
Rotala macrandra stems with small leaves and pink flower spikes growing emersed on soil Photo: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India, CC BY-SA 2.0 Rotala macrandra Difficult stem plant for high light. High lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Rotala wallichii stems with fine needle-like orange-red leaves in a home aquarium Rotala wallichii Difficult stem plant for high light. High lightMidground, BackgroundStem plant
Samolus parviflorus Red rosettes with red leaves in a home aquarium Samolus parviflorus 'Red' Medium stem plant for medium and high light. Medium–high lightMidgroundStem plant

How to choose

  1. Most red plants on this page are rated for medium or high light. Under weak light many of them grow greener.

  2. Check the CO₂ field: several red stems are rated as needing added CO₂.

  3. Red plants read as accents. One or two groups against green plants show more than a whole tank of red.

Compare side by side

Leaf color Placement
Alternanthera reineckii Stem plant 4–12 in (10–30 cm) Medium–high Medium Midground, Background
Alternanthera reineckii 'Mini' Stem plant 3–4 in (8–10 cm) Medium–high Medium Foreground, Midground, Carpet
Alternanthera reineckii 'Rosanervig' Stem plant 4–12 in (10–30 cm) Medium–high Medium Midground, Background
Ammannia gracilis Stem plant 5–8 in (13–20 cm) High Difficult Midground, Background
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Pink Flamingo' Rosette plant 2–6 in (5–15 cm) Low–medium Easy Foreground, Midground
Limnophila aromatica Stem plant 8–20 in (20–51 cm) Medium–high Medium Midground, Background
Ludwigia arcuata Stem plant 10–20 in (25–51 cm) Medium–high Easy Midground, Background
Ludwigia ovalis Stem plant 4–8 in (10–20 cm) Medium Medium Foreground, Midground
Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red' Stem plant 7–19 in (18–48 cm) Medium–high Easy Midground, Background
Ludwigia repens Stem plant 4–8 in (10–20 cm) Medium Medium Midground, Background
Pogostemon stellatus Stem plant 10–20 in (25–51 cm) Medium–high Medium Midground, Background
Red cabomba Stem plant – High Difficult Midground, Background
Red root floater Rosette plant 1–4 in (3–10 cm) Low–high Easy Floating
Rotala macrandra Stem plant 4–12 in (10–30 cm) High Difficult Midground, Background
Rotala rotundifolia 'H'ra' Stem plant 4–8 in (10–20 cm) High Medium Midground, Background
Rotala wallichii Stem plant 6–12 in (15–30 cm) High Difficult Midground, Background
Samolus parviflorus 'Red' Stem plant 4–8 in (10–20 cm) Medium–high Medium Midground

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my red plant turning green?

The sources tie red color to strong light and, for many plants, to added CO₂. A plant grown under weaker light than its rating usually loses color first.

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