Hygrophila difformis Water wisteria

Hygrophila difformis sometimes called Water wisteria is a very fast growing plant demanding very good light and lots of nutrients to get good green growth. The plants leaves change completely when grown out of the water, the very soft lobed leaves become smaller and serrated with lots of glandular hairs. The substance the glands give off seems to be toxic to some fish and you need to take great care when handling them as any damage seems to give off the toxin. Once they have been in the water a while the poison seems to disappear.

It can grow to be anywhere between 20 to 50 cm with a width of roughly 15 to 25 cm. Due to its size, it makes an excellent place for fish and other species to hide. However, we don’t recommend the plant for small tanks.

Due to its ability to withstand a large range of water values and temperatures, Hygrophila difformis can even be grown by beginners. All you’ll need to provide is light (low light is enough but the plant does look better under high light) and, if you’re looking for quick growth, the occasional dosage of nutrients.

Keep in mind that this plant is a very fast grower under the right circumstances, which means it does need a little care to prevent scraggly growth. If the stems grow too tall they will lose their bushy appearance and might start to drop lower leaves, so prune regularly to encourage side branches to develop.

Plant Info