Needle Leaf Ludwigia
Ludwigia arcuata
Onagraceae
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About
Ludwigia arcuata is the slimmest-leaved Ludwigia in the hobby: its submersed leaves are needle-thin, roughly 2.5 to 4 cm long but only about 4 mm wide, set in opposite pairs along a wiry, well-branching stem that reaches around 30 cm. That is a completely different texture from the broad, oval-leaved L. palustris and the rounded-leaved L. repens we also list, which is exactly why aquascapers plant it beside them. Native to marshes and pond margins of the southeastern USA, it shifts from olive green to warm orange and red at the shoot tips under strong light. Be aware that much of what is sold as L. arcuata in the trade is actually the near-identical L. brevipes.
Care
This is not a beginner plant. Strong light (roughly 50 to 80 PAR at the plant) plus injected CO2 around 20 to 30 mg/l is what produces the orange-red colour and the tight, compact internodes; with weaker light or no CO2 it survives but stretches, sheds lower leaves and stays plain green. Plant six to eight stems in a nutrient-rich substrate, dose full macros with iron and traces, keep parameters stable because it sulks after sudden swings, and trim the tops every two to three weeks to build a bushy stand.
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does a Needle Leaf Ludwigia need?
- Needle Leaf Ludwigia does best at 12–28 °C (53.6–82.4 °F), pH 4.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
- Where should Needle Leaf Ludwigia be placed in the aquarium?
- Needle Leaf Ludwigia works best in the midground and reaches around 30 cm.
- Is the Needle Leaf Ludwigia suitable for beginners?
- Needle Leaf Ludwigia sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.