Ludwigia Sedioides

The mosaic plant does not behave like the rest of its genus. Ludwigia sedioides sends a stem up from the substrate and then spreads diamond-shaped leaves flat across the water surface in a tightly packed rosette, the pattern that earned it the common name. It comes from still and slow-moving waters in South America, and it is grown for what it does on top of the water rather than for anything happening below it.

Aquarium care

• It needs an open, calm surface. Strong flow or heavy surface agitation will keep it from settling.
• Light must reach the surface directly, so an open-topped tank or an unobstructed lid works best.
• Root the stem into the substrate and let it find its own depth; do not bury the floating leaves.
• Floating rosettes shade whatever grows underneath them. Plan the layout around that.
• Do not release it or dispose of trimmings outdoors. Bag and bin them.

A specialty plant for shallow display tanks, paludariums and anyone building a surface-focused layout. Calm, surface-oriented fish suit it; boisterous diggers and strong currents do not.

This one comes in occasionally rather than always. Local pickup at our Lethbridge store; see the full Ludwigia list here.