Java and tropical South-East Asia; widely grown in India, China, Indonesia and Japan
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
30 cm
Temperature
18–28°C
Care level
expert
Lighting
Bright, indirect light (grown out of water)
Care
Warning: Crimson ivy is a land (or at most bog) plant, not a true aquatic plant. Kept fully underwater it slowly weakens and dies, often over several months, so it is best grown emersed in a paludarium or with only its roots in water. Hemigraphis colorata is now treated as Strobilanthes alternata (red ivy or purple waffle plant), so that is the current name. It is a low, creeping herb from Java and tropical South-East Asia, with purplish stems about 30 cm long and pairs of finely hairy leaves of unequal size, dark green on top and pale green to purple underneath. It is sold in bunches like an aquarium stem plant, but underwater it slowly rots. Grow it in moist soil and humid air, for example at the edge of a paludarium or trailing from a planter on the tank. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strobilanthesalternata); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.
Breeding
Not covered by our source. In practice stem cuttings root easily in moist compost or water, and the creeping stems root where they touch the soil.
Compatibility and tank mates
Do not sell or buy this as a true aquarium plant. It belongs in a paludarium, terrarium or on a windowsill with its roots in water, out of reach of fish.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
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Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
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