Description
Plant Profile
Rotala Coin Leaf is a captivating aquatic stem plant native to India, where it grows in slow-moving or dimly lit freshwater environments and lives a bit of a double life. Above water, it earns its name with round, coin-shaped leaves, but drop it underwater and it goes through a full glow-up: the leaves elongate and soften, developing pink, orange, and deep red hues under proper aquarium lighting. It grows fast, propagates easily, and makes a great midground or background choice for adding warm, fiery contrast against all the green in your tank.
*Form Notice: Photos display this plant in both its emersed (above-water) and submerged forms. Depending on nursery availability and seasonality, you may receive this plant in either form. Learn more about what to expect by reading our guide on Emersed vs. Submerged-Grown Aquatic Plants.
Key Features & Benefits
Submerged foliage ranges from soft pink to orange to vibrant red along stems.
Dramatic transformation from round emersed “coin” leaves to narrow underwater stems.
Easy-care stem plant that quickly forms dense, colorful midground or background bushes.
Care & Planting Instructions
Remove lead weight and cotton wrap (or foam) surrounding the base, then strip lower foliage so bare stems anchor cleanly into soil without rotting. *Rotala leaves are fragile, so handle stems with care during preparation.
Use fine-tip pinsettes to push stems 1–2 inches into soil, spacing them apart for light penetration.
Provide medium-to-high lighting. While adaptable in modest setups, adding pressurized CO2 and regular iron supplementation maximizes its red and orange pigmentation. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden environmental shifts to prevent leaf melt or stem rotting.
Trim stem tops with straight scissors once they reach the water surface, and simply replant the trimmings directly into substrate to propagate and expand your hedge. Read our trimming & propagation guide for details.
Quick Facts
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research to ensure healthy growth!
Attribute
Specification
Scientific Name
Rotala sp. ‘Coin Leaf’
Common Name(s)
Rotala Coin Leaf
Family
Lythraceae
Plant Type / Taxonomy
Stem Plant
Care Difficulty
Easy
Light Requirement
Low to High (Higher light yields redder foliage)
CO2 Requirement
Medium / Recommended (Essential for vivid red/orange colors)
Placement / Usage
Midground / Background Bushing
Height / Size
4–12”+
Growth Rate
Fast
Water Parameters
pH 5.0–8.0
Propagation Method
Cuttings (Cut stem and replant tops)
Origin
India
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when light cannot reach the bottom of the plant due to overcrowding or shading from larger plants. Spacing individual stems slightly apart during initial planting and maintaining strong light penetration will keep lower leaves healthy.
2. How do I get Rotala Coin Leaf to display bright red and orange colors?
While Rotala Coin Leaf can survive under low lighting as a greenish-pink stem, achieving intense red, orange, and pink hues requires moderate-to-high light intensity, pressurized CO2 supplementation, and consistent iron dosing.
3. How do I transition Rotala Coin Leaf from emersed to submerged growth?
When transitioning from emersed to submerged growth, plant bare stems securely into rich substrate under good lighting and keep water parameters stable. As new growth adapts, the plant will shed its rounded, coin-shaped land leaves and sprout slender, colorful underwater foliage. Once new shoots develop, trim away old lower growth to encourage dense branching.
