Ludwigia Arcuata 'Needle Leaf' Bundle

Ludwigia arcuata 'Needle Leaf' — Ludwigia Arcuata 'Needle Leaf'

Fine, needle-like foliage with a soft flowing texture — delicate color and movement for any aquascape

Ludwigia Arcuata 'Needle Leaf' brings something distinct to the tank: a delicate, wispy texture few stem plants can match. Its slender, needle-like leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stem, creating a soft, flowing, feathery effect that contrasts beautifully against broader-leaved plants — unlike the broad-leaved Ludwigias, this one is all about fine texture and movement. Its foliage ranges from green to red, with higher light and iron coaxing out warm red tones. Easy to keep and undemanding of CO2, it branches readily when pruned to form a dense, bushy mass, making it an elegant, fine-textured filler for the mid-ground or background of any aquascape.

AQUASCAPING TIP: For the warmest red, give it higher light plus an iron-rich fertilizer. To build a full, feathery stand, trim the tops regularly and replant the cuttings — it branches from each cut and thicken into a lush, fine-textured mass. Place it beside broad-leaved plants, so its delicate needle foliage provides contrast, softness, and a sense of movement in the scape.

AT A GLANCE

CARE GUIDE

CUSTOMER QUESTIONS ANSWERED

(Q) How do I use its fine, needle-like texture — and how do I keep it bushy?

= Its slender, needle-like leaves give it a delicate, wispy, flowing quality that's its signature. That fine, feathery texture makes it a wonderful contrast against broader-leaved plants, adding softness, movement, and dimension — it's the plant to reach for when a scape needs a lighter, airier touch. Use it as a fine-textured filler in the mid-foreground to background. To keep it dense and bushy rather than sparse, trim the tops regularly and replant the cuttings alongside the parent stems: it branches readily from each cut point, gradually building into a lush, feathery mass. Regular pruning is what turns a few thin stems into a full, flowing stand.

(Q) Will it turn red, and how do I get the best color?

= Its leaves range from green to red, and how much red you get comes down mainly to light and iron. Under higher light with an iron-rich fertilizer, the foliage warms toward red and orange-red; in lower light, it stays greener. The newest growth shows the richest color, so give fresh growth time to develop. In short: more light plus iron equals more red. Even in its greener state, the fine needle foliage adds a lovely airy texture, so it earns its place in the scape whether it's leaning green or red.

(Q) How do I plant it, and what if it drops leaves or arrives greener than the photos?

= It's a classic stem plant: remove any band, separate the stems, and gently push each one about an inch into the substrate, spacing them slightly apart so they have room. Roots form from the buried nodes within a week or two. Two things to expect — first, like many stem plants, it's often grown emersed at the nursery, so it may drop or melt a few leaves as it transitions to submerged growth (this is normal; don't discard it, and fresh submerged growth follows). Second, it may arrive greener than the red sample photos, since color develops under your own light and iron over time. Give it good light, dose iron, trim now and then, and it fills in beautifully.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

1 Ludwigia Arcuata 'Needle Leaf' bundle, 4–6 inches, ready to plant on arrival. It may arrive greener than the sample photos and color up under your light and iron over time, and may drop a few leaves as it transitions to submersed growth — both are normal (see the FAQ). Remove the band and rinse gently before planting. Photos are representative of the species; your specimen may vary slightly.

Ships within 10–15 business days.