Rotala sp. 'Nanjenshan'

Rotala sp. 'Nanjenshan' is a rare Taiwanese collection form named after the Nanjenshan Forest Reserve in southern Taiwan. It bears small, oval leaves on moderately compact stems that develop warm orange-pink tones under high light and CO2-enriched conditions. The leaf texture and colour sit somewhere between R. rotundifolia and the Mexican Rotala group, offering an intermediate option for aquascapers seeking variety within the Rotala genus. Growth is moderate to slow, making it suitable for aquascapes where lower maintenance is preferred. In the planted aquarium hobby it is traded mainly through specialist channels and is highly sought after by collectors dedicated to comprehensive Rotala collections.

Light: High (45–60 PAR); required for orange-pink leaf expression. CO2: Required at 20–30 mg/L; essential for compact internodes and good colour. Fertilisation: Regular comprehensive micro and macro dosing; iron especially important. Placement: Midground to background in nano and medium planted tanks. Propagation: Trim 5–8 cm tip cuttings and replant; branching encouraged by regular trimming.