Ludwigia brevipes Live Aquarium Plant

Ludwigia brevipes is a fine-leaved freshwater stem plant with a compact, bushy growth habit and attractive green to reddish-orange colour.

Under stronger lighting and good growing conditions, the upper leaves can develop warm red to orange-brown tones, making it a useful contrast plant in planted aquariums and aquascapes.

It is often confused with Ludwigia arcuata, but Ludwigia brevipes is a distinct species and generally develops a slightly more compact, bushy form underwater.

At a Glance

• Scientific name: Ludwigia brevipes
• Plant type: Stem plant
• Growth rate: Fast
• Position: Midground to background
• Typical maintained height: Around 15–30 cm
• Lighting: Moderate to strong
• CO₂: Recommended for best growth and colour
• Propagation: Stem cuttings
• Difficulty: Moderate

Colour and Growth

One of the main attractions of Ludwigia brevipes is its ability to develop attractive reddish and orange-brown tones under stronger aquarium lighting.

Under lower light, the plant is more likely to remain greener and may develop a looser growth habit.

Good nutrient availability and added CO₂ can help produce denser growth, stronger colour and healthier new shoots.

Where to Plant Ludwigia brevipes

Because of its relatively compact height and fine foliage, Ludwigia brevipes works well in the midground of larger aquariums or as a colourful background plant in smaller aquascapes.

It looks particularly effective when planted as a group, where multiple stems can form a dense bush of fine-textured foliage.

Planting Ludwigia brevipes

Separate the stems before planting and place them individually into the substrate with a small amount of spacing between each stem.

This allows better light penetration and helps reduce crowding around the lower leaves.

Planting several stems together creates a fuller display as the plant grows and produces side shoots.

Trimming and Propagation

Regular trimming helps maintain a compact, bushy shape.

When stems become too tall, cut the healthy upper section and replant it into the substrate.

The remaining lower stem can produce new lateral shoots, which gradually creates a denser group.

CO₂ and Fertilisation

Ludwigia brevipes can be more demanding than basic low-light plants.

It responds well to:

• Good aquarium lighting.
• Consistent macro and micronutrient availability.
• Added CO₂.
• Regular trimming.

These conditions are especially useful if you want the strongest red to orange colour and a compact aquascape-ready form.

Suitable for Aquascaping

The fine leaves and warm colour make Ludwigia brevipes a useful contrast plant alongside greener species.

It can work well in Dutch-style layouts, planted community tanks and smaller aquascapes where a colourful stem plant is needed without the broader leaves of larger Ludwigia species.

Browse our full range of live aquarium plants for more freshwater planting options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Ludwigia brevipes need CO₂?

Added CO₂ is recommended for the best growth, compact form and colour. It may survive without injected CO₂ in some setups, but growth and colour are usually stronger when CO₂ and nutrients are available.

How red does Ludwigia brevipes get?

Under stronger lighting and good nutrition, the upper growth can develop reddish to orange-brown tones. Under lower light it is more likely to remain green.

How tall does Ludwigia brevipes grow?

In aquariums it is commonly maintained at around 15–30 cm through regular trimming, although growth can extend further if left uncut.

How do I propagate Ludwigia brevipes?

Cut a healthy stem tip and replant it into the substrate. The trimmed lower section can also produce new side shoots.