Purple on a willow leaf. Hygrophila salicifolia 'Purple Leaf' grows narrow, elongated leaves that take on purple tones under strong light — unusual in a genus that is almost entirely green. It gives a background the height and speed of Hygrophila with color that normally requires a fussier plant.
What You’ll Receive
Enhance your aquarium with our versatile selection of high-quality aquatic plants, available in three convenient formats:
- Loose Fresh-Cut Plants: Includes approximately 4+ loose, fresh-cut stems without roots. Perfect for flexible planting arrangements.
- Fresh-Cut Bunched: Approximately 4+ fresh-cut stems without roots, bundled with foam and a plant weight for easy placement.
- Fresh-Cut Potted: About 4+ fresh-cut stems without roots, securely potted in a net pot with rockwool, ensuring stability and healthy growth.
Plant Profile
- Common name — Purple Salicifolia, Hygrophila Purple Leaf
- Scientific name — Hygrophila salicifolia
- Also known as — Nomaphila salicifolia 'Purple Leaf'
- Origin — Southeast Asia
- Placement — Background
- Shipped size — Approx. 4+ fresh-cut stems, roughly 4-8 in
- Mature height — 10–20 in
- Suits — 20 gallons and up
- Growth rate — Medium
Care
- Difficulty — Intermediate
- Light — Medium to high. The purple is a light response
- CO₂ — Recommended, not required
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
- Substrate — Required. Nutrient substrate or root tabs
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
- Propagation — Cuttings — trim and replant stem tops
Grower’s Notes
- Color without the fragility. Most colored background plants are demanding stems that resent instability. Hygrophila is a tough genus — this one gives you purple tones on a plant that tolerates an ordinary tank.
- Under weak light it stays green. That's a healthy plant, just not a colored one.
- Trim above a leaf node and replant the tops — cuttings root within days and color faster than the stumps regrow.
- Space stems an inch apart. Bunched, the lower leaves shade out and drop.
- For the broad-leaved green version of the same genus, see Hygrophila Corymbosa.
Notes
- Pictures are not the actual plants you will receive, but a sample representation. Unless specific, we don't guarantee aquatic plants will be free of pests, and pesticides, grow emerged, or submerge.
- Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.
At a glance
- Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
- Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
- Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
- USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
- Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
- Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
- We ship within the United States only.
Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.
The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.
How it works
- Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
- Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
- We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.
Good to know
- Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
- Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
- Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.
The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.
Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.
Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.
Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.
Customers praised this aquatic plant for arriving healthy with "great root systems" and adapting well to tanks. Most noted fast growth and beautiful purple-blue coloration, though some experienced slower development or melting. Easy to propagate with side shoots. Works in both low-tech and CO2-injected setups.
- Healthy, great quality on arrival
- Stems came in great condition. Plants adapted well in low tech tanks.
- Grows very fast with side shoots making it easy to propagate.
R
I have the cuttings weighted down and seeing root growth. Looking forward to planting them.
C
Stems came in great condition. The plants have adapted well in two separate low tech tanks. As they have been in the tanks a little while the purple and blue hues are starting to take effect and give some good contrast.
R
Beautiful large-leaved plant that took root immediately and is establishing very quickly! All of the new leaves are green, but maybe it'll start to return to a dark purple hue as it matures.
F
This plant is great. It grows very fast with side shoots making it easy to propagate. It's not fully purple but gets nice purple tones on the top leaves
E
The purple bacopa just completely melted even with stable water parameters and co2 injected. Every other plant is transitioning beautifully
T
Healthy plants with great root system and excellent color.
C
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLANT, It was healthy, great quality on arrival
S
Generous amount of nice long cuttings!
W
Arrived healthy started to grow but rather slowly
I
How tall do these grow?
Hi there! 👋
Hygrophila salicifolia (Purple) can grow approximately 12–20 inches tall under good conditions.
With strong lighting, nutrient-rich substrate, and optional CO₂, it can grow even taller and fuller. Regular trimming helps keep it bushy and at your preferred height.
Let us know if you need care tips or placement suggestions for your tank 🙂
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