Limnophila aromatica "Vietnam"

Limnophila aromatica 'Vietnam' is a vibrant colour form of the rice paddy herb, native to Vietnamese wetlands and river margins. Its lanceolate leaves carry a strong pink to purple pigmentation on their undersides that is most vivid under high light and with good iron supplementation. The emersed form is highly aromatic, used in Vietnamese cuisine, but underwater it presents as a purely ornamental background plant with fine-textured whorls of colour-accented foliage. It is fast-growing and requires regular trimming to stay in proportion.

Light: High; 65–90 PAR for maximum pink-purple pigmentation. CO2: Beneficial; 20–30 ppm for compact internodes and vibrant colour. Water: pH 6.0–7.5, soft to moderately hard; tolerates a range. Planting: Plant groups of 5–7 stems in the background; trim tops every 2–3 weeks. Growth: Fast; supplement iron regularly; trim frequently to prevent leggy growth.