Ludwigia Rubin

Most deep red stem plants demand a high-tech tank before they show any color. Ludwigia Rubin does not. Broad, spade-shaped leaves turn wine red on both surfaces under medium light with no CO₂ at all, which makes it the shortest route to a red midground in a low-tech tank.

What You'll Receive

Fresh, healthy Ludwigia Rubin cultivated and prepared by Aquarium Plants Factory®, available in convenient planting formats.

• Fresh-cut Plants: Approximately 6+ loose, fresh-cut stems without roots.
• Fresh-cut Bunched: Approximately 6+ stems bundled with foam and a plant weight for easy planting.
• Fresh-cut Potted: Approximately 6+ stems securely potted in a net pot with rockwool for stability and convenient planting.

Plant Profile

• Common name — Ludwigia Rubin
• Scientific name — Ludwigia repens 'Rubin'
• Also known as — Red Diamond, Ludwigia Ruby
• Origin — Cultivated form of a North and Central American species
• Placement — Midground to background
• Shipped size — Approx. 6+ fresh-cut stems, roughly 4-8 inches
• Mature height — 6-16 inches
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Medium to high
• CO₂ — Not required. It reddens without injection, which is the whole point of this cultivar
• Water — 68-82°F, pH 6.0-7.5
• Substrate — Required. Nutrient-rich soil or root tabs, plus water column dosing
• Growth habit — Amphibious stem, feeds from roots and water column
• Propagation — Cuttings

Grower's Notes

• This is the red plant to start with. Most reds need high light and injected CO₂ before they color. Rubin does it on medium light in a low-tech tank — if earlier attempts at a red plant have failed, this is the one that changes that.
• Both leaf surfaces color up. Unlike Ludwigia repens, which stays green on top and red underneath, Rubin holds red through the whole leaf. That is why it reads as a solid block of color from the front of the tank.
• Low nitrate deepens it, but do not starve it. Rubin darkens when nitrate is kept modest and iron is dosed consistently. Cutting nitrate to zero stalls the plant instead — aim for lean but present.
• Trim above a node and replant the cutting. Each cut stem branches into two, so repeated trimming builds a dense red thicket rather than a row of single stems.
• Emersed stock changes shape after planting. Leaves grown out of water are thicker and often greener. The first submersed leaves are broader and considerably redder, so judge the plant by its new growth.

Want to go deeper? Read our complete Ludwigia Care Guide.

Notes

• Aquarium plants are living organisms and may naturally vary in size, shape, and coloration depending on season, lighting, and growing conditions. Most plants are grown emersed before shipping and will gradually transition to their submerged form after being introduced into the aquarium.
• 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.