Lagenandra meeboldii (Lagenandra meeboldii) care guide
- Group
- Plants
- Other names
- Lagenandra meeboldii 'Red'
- Family
- Araceae (arum family)
- Origin
- South-western India
- Water
- freshwater
- Maximum size
- 20 cm
- Temperature
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 2–12 dGH
- Care level
- beginner
- Lighting
- Low light, though more light brings out the red; CO2 not needed
Care
Lagenandra meeboldii is a Lagenandra, a genus of aroids from the Indian subcontinent closely related to Cryptocoryne. The genus grows as marsh plants, sometimes in streams, from a thick creeping rhizome. Lagenandra leaves unroll from the edges inwards, and the female flowers are not fused, which is how botanists tell them from crypts. It comes from south-western India. Tropica sells the red form as Lagenandra meeboldii 'Red', both as a potted plant and as a rosulate plant. Tropica rates 'Red' as easy and slow-growing, with low light and CO2 needs, though it needs enough light to show its colours. Leaves are 6–12 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, so the plant spreads fairly wide; use it like a Cryptocoryne in the midground. Colour ranges from dusty green with violet to red-violet, often on the same leaf, and new leaves open pale pink. A nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs help. Water figures are our estimate, not from the sources. Sources: Tropica (tropica.com/en/plants); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagenandra); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.
Breeding
Divide the creeping rhizome or detach side shoots once they have their own roots. Like crypts, plants dislike being moved, so propagate only from established clumps.
Compatibility and tank mates
Tough leaves are usually ignored by fish, but large cichlids and diggers can uproot young plants, so protect the base with stones until rooted. Shrimp and snails do no harm.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.