Rotala ramosior 'Red Cross'

Green to yellow with orange tips. Rotala ramosior 'Red Cross' carries slender, spiky leaves on an ascending stem, and the color runs as a gradient up each leaf rather than sitting flat — light green at the base through yellow to orange at the tip. It is a slow grower and an uncommon one.

What You'll Receive

• Sold as loose fresh-cut plants, bunched plants, or potted plants
• Fresh-cut plants | Approx. 6 stems, loose fresh-cut stems without root
• Bunched plants | Approx. 6 fresh-cut stems without root, bundled with foam, and plant's weight
• Potted plants | Approx. 6 fresh-cut stems without root, potted with rockwool

Plant Profile

• Common name — Rotala Red Cross
• Scientific name — Rotala ramosior 'Red Cross'
• Misapplied name — Rotala Araguaia Red Cross
• Type — Stem plant
• Placement — Midground to background
• Foliage — Slender spiky leaves; light green through yellow to orange tips
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Intermediate
• Light — Medium to high. High intensity is what produces the orange
• CO₂ — Recommended
• Substrate — Required. Nutrient substrate
• Growth habit — Grows submerged or emersed
• Propagation — Cuttings from side shoots or axial roots, replanted into the substrate

Grower's Notes

• The gradient needs strong light to appear. In medium light it stays green and the plant loses the thing it is bought for. The orange sits on the upper half of each leaf, so it reads best on stems tall enough to sit under the light rather than in shade.
• Slow growth is a feature here. It holds a scape's proportions far longer than fast Rotala, which means less trimming — but also that a gap takes a while to fill. Plant the density you want.
• Grows emersed as well as submerged, so it suits a paludarium or a dry start.
• Propagate from side shoots rather than topping the main stem; ramosior branches readily and the side growth roots easily.
• Sold under Araguaia Red Cross by some suppliers — the same plant, but ramosior is the correct species.

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.