Hygrophila corymbosa
The default 'cheap big green stem' at SA aquarium shops, huge spear-shaped leaves on tall stems that fill a 60 cm tank's back wall in weeks. Will grow in almost any water (tolerates SA's harder tap better than most stems). Trim aggressively; old bottom growth sheds leaves. The cultivar 'Stricta' has narrower, frillier leaves.
Temple Plant (Hygrophila corymbosa) is a stem aquatic plant for the background of a planted tank. It reaches 30–60 cm under good conditions and grows at a fast rate. Light: low to high. CO₂: none to optional. Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, and 3–20 dGH. Substrate: Any, root and water-column feeder. Propagate via cuttings (top and side shoots).
Care at a glance
The default 'cheap big green stem' at SA aquarium shops, huge spear-shaped leaves on tall stems that fill a 60 cm tank's back wall in weeks. Will grow in almost any water (tolerates SA's harder tap better than most stems). Trim aggressively; old bottom growth sheds leaves. The cultivar 'Stricta' has narrower, frillier leaves.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
The parameters that decide whether temple plant fits in your tank.
Acanthaceae
Stem
Background
Any, root and water-column feeder
Cuttings (top and side shoots)
Marshes and pond edges of tropical Asia
Southeast Asia
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
CO₂ requirement: none to optional. Light requirement: low to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a fast rate.
Temple Plant (Hygrophila corymbosa) needs low to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Position: background. Substrate: Any, root and water-column feeder It typically reaches 30–60 cm.
Propagation method: Cuttings (top and side shoots). Temple Plant is a stem plant.
Target 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, and 3–20 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to medium.
Difficulty: 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
