Hygrophila angustifolia rubra

Hygrophila angustifolia 'Rubra' (also commonly known as Willow Leaf Hygrophila Red) is a hardy, fast-growing aquatic stem plant native to Southeast Asia. It is highly prized by aquascapers for its long, narrow, willow-like leaves that display an elegant gradient ranging from olive-green to a warm, reddish-copper hue depending on the tank's environment.

Because it grows quickly and can easily reach 6 to 12+ inches (up to 50 cm) in height, it serves as an excellent background plant that acts as a natural nutrient sponge, helping to keep aquarium water clean and suppress algae growth.

📋 Quick Facts & Water Parameters

Attribute	Specification	Source
Care Difficulty	Easy to Medium	Buce Plant, AquaScape Room
Growth Rate	Fast	Azaqua
Placement	Midground to Background	Aqua Essentials
Lighting	Moderate to High	Buce Plant
CO2 Requirement	Optional (Recommended for intense red coloration)	Lincs Plants
Temperature	22–28°C (72–82°F)	Azaqua, Cuboid Store
pH Range	5.0–8.0 (Ideal: 6.0–7.5)	Buce Plant, Cuboid Stor

Care & Maintenance Guidelines

Achieving Red Coloration: While the plant will survive and grow under low light, it will remain mostly olive-green. To bring out vibrant, deep-red or coppery tones, you must provide moderate-to-high lighting and supplement the water with trace micronutrients (specifically iron). Pressurized CO2 injection will also drastically improve its pigmentation and fullness.
Preventing Leaf Drop: A common issue with this plant is the loss of its lower leaves, making the bottom stems look "leggy". This happens when light cannot penetrate the lower section of the tank. To prevent this, space individual stems slightly apart during planting rather than bundling them closely together.
Trimming and Pruning: Because of its rapid growth rate, regular trimming is required to maintain its shape. Snipping the top of the main stem with aquascaping scissors will encourage the plant to shoot out side branches, producing a much denser, bushier appearance.
Nutrient Requirements: Hygrophila species are heavy root feeders and are highly susceptible to potassium deficiency, which manifests as tiny pinholes forming in the older leaves. Plant them in a high-quality nutrient substrate or supplement them regularly with root tabs alongside liquid fertilizers.
Propagation: Propagating this plant is incredibly straightforward. Simply cut a healthy stem right below a leaf node, strip the leaves from the bottom inch of the cutting, and gently push it 1 to 2 inches into the substrate using fine tweezers. It will rapidly establish a new root system.