Care Guide

Family Name: Lythraceae

Rotala Nanjenshan

Intermediate difficultyBackorder

Care at a Glance

Lighting

Moderate to high

Growth Rate

Fast

Growth Form

Stem

Placement

Midground

True Aquatic

Yes

Available As

Bunch

About This Plant

Rotala “ Nanjenshan” is an interesting plant because even though it has been a popular aquarium plant for a number of years, we know nothing about it in the wild. It first entered the hobby via Japan, but it is not native there. It is suspected to come from a lake in the hills of southern Taiwan. But until it can be verified, both in terms of its origin and flowers obtained, we will not know for sure. In any case, Rotala “ Nanjenshan” is a beautiful small-leafed species that grows into a dens bush with regular trimming, so is very useful in the mid-ground of the aquariumm. It does best with at least moderate light and supplemental CO2, like all Rotala sp., but is not as finicky or prone to melting as some species.

About the Rotala Genus

Family — Lythraceae

Rotala are slender stem plants in the Lythraceae family, used as background fillers and color accents. Most species respond dramatically to light intensity, expressing yellow, orange, pink, or red tones under high light and CO2 enrichment.

Quick-Reference Details

Common name: Family Name: Lythraceae
Scientific name: Rotala Nanjenshan
Family: Lythraceae
Native to: Taiwan (probably)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Requirements: Moderate, does best with supplemental CO2
Lighting: Moderate to high
Growth rate: Fast
Growth form: Stem
Placement: Midground
True aquatic: Yes
Available as: Bunch

Difficulty — Intermediate

Grows reliably in moderate-tech tanks. Benefits from steady fertilization and adequate light, but does not require CO2 to survive.

CO2 & Fertilization

CO2 supplementation is recommended for best growth and color. Liquid carbon (Easy Carbon, Excel) is a workable substitute, though pressurized CO2 produces the strongest results.

Tank Size & Setup

Best in tanks 20 gallons or larger so background stems have room to grow up and be trimmed without overtaking the foreground.

Aquascaping & Placement

Place in the midground between foreground carpets and tall background stems. The structure adds visual depth and shelters small fish and shrimp. Trim and replant the tops every 3-4 weeks. The new growth tips hold the best color and form, while lower stems eventually need replacing.

Tank-Mate Compatibility

Compatible with the full range of community-tank species — tetras, rasboras, livebearers, corydoras, and most other peaceful freshwater fish do not damage the foliage.

Pro Tips for Growing Family Name: Lythraceae

1Top-prune (cut and replant tops) to maintain color — the new growth tips hold the strongest color.
2More light + CO2 = more red. Without those, expect a green or peach-pink color expression.
3Plant stems individually with ~1 cm spacing; clumped stems shade each other and the inner stems die back.

Common Care Issues

Outgrowing the tank

Plan to trim every 1-2 weeks. Skipping trims lets the plant shade out neighbors and trap detritus that fouls water quality.

Slow initial growth

Most aquarium plants pause for 2-4 weeks after planting while they convert from their nursery-grown emersed form to fully submerged growth. New leaves that emerge underwater will look thinner and slightly different — this is the plant adapting, not a problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much light does Family Name: Lythraceae need?

Family Name: Lythraceae (Rotala Nanjenshan) prefers moderate to high lighting. A standard planted-tank LED fixture run 7-9 hours a day is typical.

Does Family Name: Lythraceae need CO2?

CO2 supplementation is recommended for best growth and color. Liquid carbon (Easy Carbon, Excel) is a workable substitute, though pressurized CO2 produces the strongest results.

Is Family Name: Lythraceae good for beginners?

Family Name: Lythraceae is rated intermediate-level. Grows reliably in moderate-tech tanks. Benefits from steady fertilization and adequate light, but does not require CO2 to survive.

How fast does Family Name: Lythraceae grow?

Growth rate is fast. Expect to trim every 1-2 weeks once established.

What fish and invertebrates are compatible with Family Name: Lythraceae?

Compatible with the full range of community-tank species — tetras, rasboras, livebearers, corydoras, and most other peaceful freshwater fish do not damage the foliage.

Available to Purchase

Family Name: Lythraceae — $19.99

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