Purple is rarer than red in a planted tank. Rotala ramosior 'Florida' is one of the few stem plants that gets there — lavender through to deep violet under strong light and CO₂, on upright stems with narrow leaves in opposite pairs. Native to North America, and still uncommon in the hobby.
What You’ll Receive
Elevate your aquascape with our premium selection of versatile aquatic plants, available in the following convenient formats:
- Fresh-Cut Plants: Includes approximately 6+ loose, fresh-cut stems without roots. Perfect for flexible planting arrangements.
- Fresh-Cut Bunched: Approximately 6+ fresh-cut stems without roots, bundled with foam and a plant weight for easy placement.
- Fresh-Cut Potted: About 6+ fresh-cut stems without roots, securely potted in a net pot with rockwool, ensuring stability and healthy growth.
- These pest-free, young plants were grown in a lab before transitioning ex-vitro for maximum hardiness. Expect natural variations in their initial size and color as they settle in and mature in your tank!
Plant Profile
- Common name — Rotala Florida
- Scientific name — Rotala ramosior 'Florida'
- Origin — North America
- Placement — Midground to background
- Shipped size — Approx. 6+ fresh-cut stems, no roots
- Mature height — 6–14 in
- Suits — 10 gallons and up
- Growth rate — Medium
Care
- Difficulty — Intermediate
- Light — Medium to high. Purple only appears under strong light
- CO₂ — Recommended
- Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.0
- Substrate — Nutrient substrate or root tabs recommended
- Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
- Propagation — Cuttings — trim and replant stem tops
Grower’s Notes
- Under weak light it is simply a green plant. The purple is a light-driven response — buying this for color and running it in a low-tech tank will disappoint. Give it the light or buy a green stem instead.
- Iron dosing matters more here than for most stems; micronutrient shortfalls show up as washed-out color before they show up as poor growth.
- Trim the tops and replant them. Cuttings color up faster than the stumps regrow, and repeated topping is how you build a dense purple group.
- Plant stems individually an inch apart. Bunched, the lower stems shade out and rot.
- Also available as sterile Rotala Florida Vitro Culture if you need a pest-free start.
Want to go deeper? Read our guide on how to grow Rotala ramosior 'Florida'.
Notes
- Pictures are sample representations. Color intensity may vary based on lighting, nutrient levels, and CO₂ availability. Some melting may occur during the transition to submerged growth, which is normal.
- 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 aquarium plant as "amazingly beautiful" with vibrant purple-pink leaves. Shoppers appreciated the generous stem quantity and "great quality" at an excellent price. The plant adapts well and thrives in high-tech setups with CO2. However, customers noted it requires patience, taking 1-2 weeks to transition to its submerged form.
- Already showing purple leaves after only 2 days in my aquarium!
- Great quality plants. Excellent price. Repeat buyer!
- Amazingly beautiful plant showing new, healthy violet-pink leaves in 10 days.
R
Great quantity and healthy stems.
S
Receive in good condition and grow very well in my tank.
C
I am so happy that apf started to have more uncommon plants. It transitioned to the purple submerged form within two weeks for me so definitely needs to be patient
Q
Recived the shipments and all came in good quality
H
My faborite aquarium plant of all time, had purchased some for a new set up aquarium in the past due to human error they unfortunately melted and died. But these new purchase are in my 75 gallon hightech with a higher GH and c02 and high lighting these beautys already showing purple leaves after only 2 days in my aquarium. Cant wait for the full transition! Always buy from Aquarium factory you will not be disappointed!!
J
More stalks per bundle than i tjought
a
My Rotala came in with no harm and they adjusted to the tank immediately!
A
great quality plants. excellent price. repeat buyer 👍
B
This is an amazingly beautiful plant, however, it takes longer than usual to adapt to the underwater life, so you must be patient. I tried buying this plant from a different supplier (APF did not have it at the time) and I lost it. The APF plants adapt well and are already showing new, healthy violet-pink leaves in 10 days after being planted. Now I am confident that this beautiful Rotala Florida will live and thrive in the tank.
A
They Look Beutiful!
D
Great plants, good service!
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