Globefruit Ludwigia

Ludwigia sphaerocarpa

A ludwigia that grows sideways instead of up: trimmed regularly it forms low red-orange crowns near the substrate. Unusual for the genus, and useful at the front of a tank.

Light: high
Difficulty: medium
Temperature: 18 – 28 °C (64 – 82 °F)

Leaf colour: green, red
Plant type: stem plant
Growth rate: medium
pH: 5 – 7
Propagation: cuttings
Grows emersed: yes

Appearance

Narrow leaves on stems that spread horizontally rather than standing upright. Under strong light the crowns turn red to orange; in the shade the plant is a dull green.

Keeping

Moderate demands and slow growth by ludwigia standards. Light is the whole story: strong light gives colour and compact growth, shade gives green and slower growth still. Regular pruning is what keeps it low and encourages the crowns.

Placement

The front or middle of the tank, where nothing shades it.

Propagation

By cuttings: cut a shoot and replant it.

Water conditions match

The water suits 855 of 1249 species in the catalogue — these are the ones people look up most often.

Butterflyfish Julii Corydoras Featherfin Synodontis Red-finned Parotocinclus Gastromyzon monticola Egg-shaped Goldfish Flame Tetra Gardner's Killifish African Tetra Hypsolebias picturatus Common Zacco Labeo Bicolor Gambusia Flying barb Gastromyzon scitulus Albino Zebra Danio Geophagus Brokopondo Homaloptera bilineata Red-tailed Rasbora Boraras naevus Lampeye Killifish Spotted Raphael Catfish Corydoras melanotaenia Festivum cichlid

Will eat this plant

These species damage plants, especially when their diet is short of vegetable food.

Bengal Loach Zebra Loach Burmese Border Loach Emperor Botia Marbled Headstander Pellegrin's Leporinus Leporinus striatus False Black Tetra Common Metynnis Mylossoma duriventre Red Whiptail Catfish Moonlight Gourami Melanotaenia parva

Matching water does not mean the fish will leave the plant alone.

The same plant with a different look: light, water and care are shared with the species.

Other varieties: Ludwigia sphaerocarpa in Vitro, Ludwigia sphaerocarpa Aqua Art

Scientific and other names, conservation status

Other scientific names: Isnardia sphaerocarpa, Ludwigia sphaerocarpa deamii, Ludwigia sphaerocarpa jungens, Ludwigia sphaerocarpa macrocarpa, Ludwigia sphaerocarpa sphaerocarpa, Ludwigia sphaerocarpa typica
Ludwigia sphaerocarpa: Elliott
Family: Onagraceae

Globefruit Ludwigia

Tank conditions

Care and keeping