Ludwigia Repens

Native to North and Central America, Ludwigia repens is one of those plants that quietly earns its place in almost every planted tank style. Stems grow upright and can reach 50cm, with leaves that are green on top and a warm reddish-purple underneath.

Crank up the light and the whole plant shifts toward deeper reds and burnt oranges. Keep it in low to medium light and it stays mostly green with hints of color peeking through. Either way it looks good, which is part of why it shows up so often in beginner setups and serious Dutch-style tanks alike.

It roots in substrate and spreads through cuttings, so once you have a few stems you'll never run out. Trim the tops when they reach the surface, replant the cuttings, and the original stems will branch out and fill in.

CO2 isn't required but it makes a real difference in growth speed and color intensity. Fertilization helps too, especially iron for strong reds. Browse any scaped tank gallery and you'll spot this plant anchoring background sections in builds of every skill level.