Plant Profile
Cabomba Piauhyensis Red, or Red Cabomba, has fine, needle-like foliage that radiates out in delicate fan-like whorls, giving it the look of brilliant red pine trees planted straight into your substrate. Under high-tech aquarium conditions with intense lighting, soft acidic water, and pressurized CO2, it fully commits to the bit, shifting from olive-pink into an intense, saturated crimson-red to deep wine color. Reaching 10+ inches tall, Red Cabomba makes a striking midground centerpiece or a lush, feathery background hedge in high-tech nature aquariums and Dutch-style layouts, no fire extinguisher required. When grown emersed, this plant can produce beautiful purple flowers.
*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
- Delicate, feathery needle-like whorls resemble red pine trees.
- Intense crimson foliage provides high-contrast color against green plants.
- Fast growth acts as a natural nutrient sponge, keeping water clean and suppressing algae.
Care & Planting Instructions
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Remove lead weight (or pot) and remove cotton wrap (or foam) surrounding the roots, then strip lower foliage so bare stems anchor cleanly into soil without rotting. *Cabomba stems and leaves are exceptionally delicate, so handle with extreme care during preparation.
- Use fine-tip pinsettes to push individual stems 1 to 2 inches into substrate, spacing them slightly apart so light reaches lower foliage whorls.
- Provide high-intensity lighting and soft, acidic water (pH 5.0–6.8); mandatory pressurized CO2 injection and regular supplementation of nitrates, phosphates, and liquid iron are essential to maintain stem density and bring out brilliant red coloration. See our guide to growing red aquarium plants.
- Maintain stable water parameters and avoid sudden environmental shifts to prevent leaf melt or stem shedding.
- Trim main stem tops with sharp straight scissors once stems reach the desired height, and replant trimmings directly into substrate to propagate and expand your bush. 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 |
Cabomba furcata / Cabomba piauhyensis |
| Common Name(s) |
Cabomba Piauhyensis Red, Red Cabomba, Red Pine Plant |
| Family |
Cabombaceae |
| Plant Type / Taxonomy |
Stem Plant |
| Care Difficulty |
Advanced / Difficult |
| Light Requirement |
High |
| CO2 Requirement |
Required (High concentration essential) |
| Placement / Usage |
Midground / Background Centerpiece |
| Height / Size |
10”+ |
| Growth Rate |
Fast |
| Water Parameters |
pH 5.0–6.8 | Soft Acidic Water Preferred |
| Propagation Method |
Cuttings (Cut stem and replant tops) |
| Origin |
Central & South America |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are the lower leaves falling off my stem plants?
Lower leaf loss (leggy stems) usually occurs when lighting 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 foliage healthy.
2. How do I achieve the deepest red color on Red Cabomba?
Achieving intense crimson foliage on Red Cabomba requires high-intensity lighting, high levels of injected CO2, soft acidic water, a nutrient-dense substrate, and routine liquid fertilization with a focus on iron, nitrate, and phosphate supplementation.
3. How do I transition Red Cabomba from emersed to submerged growth?
When transitioning from emersed to submerged growth, plant bare stems securely into rich substrate under strong lighting and high CO2 while keeping water parameters stable. As new growth adapts, the plant will shed its land leaves and sprout soft, feathery red underwater whorls. Once new shoots take root, trim away old lower growth to encourage dense branching.
