Hygrophila odora is a striking, relatively rare marsh and aquatic plant endemic to West Africa. In the aquarium hobby, it is highly valued for its elegant, fern-like appearance and vibrant green colouration.
Interestingly, this plant exhibits two entirely different forms depending on how it is grown:
- Submersed (Underwater): It develops light green, hairless, deeply pinnate (fern-like) leaves on tough stems. This form grows relatively slowly and is highly decorative as a midground or background bush in aquascapes.
- Emersed (Above Water): When grown out of the water, it transforms into a tall, robust marsh plant with solid, lanceolate leaves. The emersed stems and leaves are covered in sticky glandular hairs and produce large blue-violet flowers. It also emits a distinctly strong, slightly musky odor when touched, which is how it earned the species name odora.
| Plant Info | |
|---|---|
| Aquascaping Zone | Midground/Background |
| Plant Type | Stem |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Light demand | Medium |
| CO2 requirement | High |
| Height | 20-40 cm |
| Origin | West Africa |
Hygrophila odora - potted
Hygrophila odora is a striking, relatively rare marsh and aquatic plant endemic to West Africa. In the aquarium hobby, it is highly valued for its elegant, fern-like appearance and vibrant green colouration.
Interestingly, this plant exhibits two entirely different forms depending on how it is grown:
- Submersed (Underwater): It develops light green, hairless, deeply pinnate (fern-like) leaves on tough stems. This form grows relatively slowly and is highly decorative as a midground or background bush in aquascapes.
- Emersed (Above Water): When grown out of the water, it transforms into a tall, robust marsh plant with solid, lanceolate leaves. The emersed stems and leaves are covered in sticky glandular hairs and produce large blue-violet flowers. It also emits a distinctly strong, slightly musky odor when touched, which is how it earned the species name odora.
| Plant Info | |
|---|---|
| Aquascaping Zone | Midground/Background |
| Plant Type | Stem |
| Difficulty | Advanced |
| Growth rate | Slow |
| Light demand | Medium |
| CO2 requirement | High |
| Height | 20-40 cm |
| Origin | West Africa |
- Availability: Out Of Stock