Photo: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Swamp smartweed
Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small
—
Height in the aquarium
medium to high
Light
medium
CO₂ needs
23–27 °C
Ideal temperature
Water parameters
Understand these values- Position
- background, midground
- Propagation
- cuttings
- Uses
- open-top tank
- Grows emersed
- yes
In the wild
Overview
This American knotweed grows very upright and keeps fairly short internodes. Its subdued green can set off neighbouring red plants. In good conditions the leaves become very wavy. A dense group in the midground or background has more impact than a single stem.
- Scientific name
- Persicaria hydropiperoides (Michx.) Small
- Classification
- Caryophyllales › Polygonaceae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
North America
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Introduced in Rivers and lakes
- Native countries
- Introduced by people
Outside its native range, in 5 countries:
An aquarium plant must never reach the wild: throwing away cuttings or emptying a tank into a stream can be enough to establish it.
Countries: Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP). Dots: GBIF observations in the native countries.
In the aquarium
Growing in the aquarium
It can survive in low light but becomes more attractive with strong light and good feeding. Provide an aquarium spacious enough for the group of stems. Cuttings are used to fill out the planting. Its habit stays upright: do not expect a creeping plant even when it gets a lot of light.
Sources:Flowgrow GBIF POWO (Kew) · Base map: Natural Earth