Best Red Aquarium Plants To Add Bold Color to Your Tank

Have you ever looked at a beautifully aquascaped tank and wondered how they get such vibrant colors? Lush green plants are fantastic, but adding a splash of red can transform your aquarium from a simple setup into a stunning underwater masterpiece. If you’re ready to explore this vibrant world, this guide on the best red aquarium plants to add bold color to your tank is the perfect place to start!

Ludwigia Super Red

Ludwigia Natans Super Red

When you think of red aquarium plants, Ludwigia Super Red is often one of the first that comes to mind. It’s incredibly popular, and for good reason! This plant boasts an intense, fire engine red that can become the centerpiece of any aquascape. It’s a fantastic choice for hobbyists who want a dramatic effect without a ton of fuss.

Care and Conditions

Ludwigia Super Red is relatively undemanding. To get that brilliant scarlet hue, you’ll want to provide it with medium to bright lighting. With lower light, the leaves might appear more orange or even a bit green, but the plant will still grow just fine. It also appreciates a nutrient-rich substrate and the occasional dose of liquid fertilizer, especially one that contains iron.

Placement in the Tank

This plant is a stem plant, meaning it grows tall and can be trimmed and replanted to achieve a dense, bushy look. It works beautifully as a background or midground plant. You can plant a group of stems together to form a vibrant red cluster that contrasts wonderfully with green foliage.

Rotala Rotundifolia

Rotala Rotundifolia 'Orange Juice'

Rotala Rotundifolia is a classic in the aquarium hobby. While its name means “round-leaved,” the leaves are actually slender and pointed. The cool thing about this plant is its color variation. Depending on the conditions, it can range from green to pink to a lovely reddish-orange.

Achieving Red Hues

To bring out the red and pink tones in Rotala Rotundifolia, you’ll need to provide it with high lighting. CO2 injections also help immensely, pushing the color from a subtle pink to a rich, deep red. Limiting nitrates in the water column is another trick aquascapers use to encourage redder growth.

Aquascaping With Rotala

Like Ludwigia, Rotala Rotundifolia is a fast-growing stem plant. It’s perfect for creating soft, feathery backgrounds. Regular trimming will encourage it to grow more densely, creating a lush wall of color. It’s a great choice for Dutch-style aquascapes, which focus on building structured “streets” of different plant types and colors.

Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini'

Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini'

If you’re looking for a red plant for your foreground or midground, Alternanthera Reineckii 'Mini' is a top contender. This is a dwarf variety of the classic AR, creating a compact, low-growing carpet of color. Its leaves are a gorgeous magenta or deep red, offering a bold statement in any tank.

Specific Needs

AR 'Mini' is a bit more demanding than some other plants on this list. It requires high lighting and CO2 supplementation to thrive and show its most vibrant colors. Without these, it may grow slowly and lose some of its intense red pigmentation. A nutrient-rich substrate is also highly recommended.

Design Ideas

Because of its short stature, AR 'Mini' is perfect for creating a red carpet effect in the foreground. It can also be tucked into crevices in driftwood or between rocks to add a splash of color. Its slower growth rate means you won’t have to trim it constantly, which is a nice bonus.

Red Tiger Lotus

Nymphaea Tiger Lotus

The Red Tiger Lotus (Nymphaea zenkeri) is a truly spectacular plant. It’s a type of water lily that produces large, arrow-shaped leaves with beautiful red and purple splotches. What makes it unique is its ability to grow both submerged leaves and floating lily pads. It’s a real showstopper!

Managing Its Growth

This plant grows from a bulb, which you should only partially bury in the substrate. It’s a relatively easy plant to care for and does well in a wide range of conditions. In lower light, the leaves will be greener, but with moderate to high light, the red variegation becomes much more pronounced.

Cryptocoryne Affinis 'Red'

Cryptocoryne plants, or “Crypts,” are a favorite among many aquarists for their hardiness and attractive appearance. The “Red” variety of Cryptocoryne offers beautiful bronze, brown, and deep red tones. It’s a fantastic low-maintenance option for adding a touch of subtle color.

Low-Tech Friendly

One of the best things about this plant is that it doesn’t require high-tech conditions. It will grow well in low to moderate light and doesn’t need CO2 injection. It’s a perfect choice for beginners who want to experiment with red plants without a major equipment upgrade.

Placement and Care

Crypts are root feeders, so they will benefit greatly from a nutrient-rich substrate or root tabs. They are best used as a midground or foreground plant, where their broad leaves can create a nice contrast with finer-leafed stem plants.

Be aware of “Crypt melt,” where the plant sheds its leaves when moved or when water parameters change suddenly. Don’t panic! It will usually grow back stronger once it has acclimated.

Red Root Floater

Phyllanthus Fluitans Red Root Floater

Looking to add some red to the surface of your water? The Red Root Floater (Phyllanthus fluitans) is your answer! This floating plant has small, round green leaves that turn a deep, blood-red under intense lighting. Its most striking feature, however, is its long, dangling red roots, which create a beautiful and natural look.

Benefits and Care

Red Root Floaters are great for providing shade for fish and shrimp, and can help reduce algae by consuming excess nutrients from the water. They thrive in water with low surface agitation and high light. The more light they get, the redder the leaves and roots will become.

Rotala 'Blood Red'

Rotala 'Blood Red'

If you want an even more intense red than Rotala Rotundifolia, look no further than Rotala 'Blood Red'. As its name suggests, this variety can achieve a stunningly deep, blood-red coloration under the right conditions. It’s a true showstopper for high-tech setups.

High-Tech Demands

This is not a beginner plant. To get that signature color, Rotala 'Blood Red' requires very high lighting, consistent CO2 injection, and a well-balanced fertilization schedule with limited nitrates. It’s a rewarding challenge for aquarists looking to take their skills to the next level.

Ready to infuse your aquarium with stunning vibrancy and add beautiful red aquatic plants to your tank? You’re in for a treat! Discover our incredible selection and find the perfect splash of color to transform your aquascape. Let’s make your scape truly unforgettable!

Brighten Your Aquarium

Adding a pop of crimson or a blush of pink can completely change the dynamic of your aquarium, creating contrast, depth, and visual interest. With so many options available, from breathtaking Rotalas to brilliant Ludwigias, there’s a red plant for every tank. Now that you know the best red aquarium plants to add bold color to your tank, it is time to experiment and try some new designs. Happy scaping!