Care at a glance
Nutrient sponge, use it to outcompete algae in new tanks. Banned/invasive in several US states (check local rules before sourcing).
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to the planted aquarium.
PlantStem
Dwarf Hygrophila
Hygrophila polysperma
India, Bangladesh, BhutanBeginner
TL;DR, Dwarf Hygrophila
Nutrient sponge, use it to outcompete algae in new tanks. Banned/invasive in several US states (check local rules before sourcing).
Dwarf Hygrophila (Hygrophila polysperma) is a stem aquatic plant for the midground to background of a planted tank. It reaches 20–40 cm under good conditions and grows at a very fast rate. Light: low to high. CO₂: optional. Target 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Substrate: Any, water column feeder. Propagate via cuttings (top and side shoots).
Tank fit
The parameters that decide whether dwarf hygrophila fits in your tank.
Parameters
15 °C20 °C25 °C30 °C
4.05.06.07.08.0
0 dGH5 dGH10 dGH15 dGH20 dGH25 dGH
020406080
Low
Medium
High
None
Optional
Recommended
Required
Slow
Medium
Fast
V. fast
Still
Low
Medium
High
V. high
Profile
Family
Acanthaceae
Type
Stem
Position
Midground to Background
Substrate
Any, water column feeder
Propagation
Cuttings (top and side shoots)
Habitat
Marshes and pond edges across tropical Asia
India, Bangladesh, Bhutan
Who it lives with
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Pro tips
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
BANNED OR INVASIVE in: USA federal lacy weed list, several US states (Alabama, Florida, Texas, etc.), parts of Australia. CHECK YOUR LOCAL REGULATIONS before sourcing. Outside restricted regions, it's a perfect new-tank plant for fighting algae.
Things to watch for
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Things to watch for
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Nutrition
Common deficiencies
Pale: nitrogen. Pinholes: potassium. Stunted: trace minerals or insufficient light. Adapts to almost any conditions.
Algae
Algae issues
Rapid growth outcompetes algae — actually USED to fight algae in new tanks (called a 'nutrient sponge').
How to care for it
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
Fertilization
Heavy column feeder. EI dosing keeps it lush. Iron especially makes 'Sunset' colour pop.
Trimming
Top the stems weekly — pinch off the top 5 cm with scissors and replant. Side shoots branch from the trimmed node and the plant gets bushier. Don't let stems reach the surface and bend over.
Background
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Show backgroundHide background
In the wild
Where it lived before it came home.
Native rangeIndiaBangladeshBhutan
Origin · India, Bangladesh, Bhutan
Streams and pools throughout South and Southeast Asia. Hardy enough to be invasive in warmer parts of the world.
Emersed form
Grows emersed easily; many wholesalers grow it that way. Emersed leaves are wider and stiffer.
Flowering
Small white-purple axillary flowers when emersed.
Variants & identification
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
Variants / cultivars
SunsetRosanervigCeylon
'Sunset' (variegated pink/cream new growth, beautiful), 'Rosanervig' (pink veining), 'Ceylon' (broader leaves). All same care.
Misidentification
Often mixed in with H. corymbosa (broader), H. difformis (lacy), H. siamensis. Polysperma is the slim, narrow-leaf, fast variety.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Does Dwarf Hygrophila need CO₂?
CO₂ requirement: optional. Light requirement: low to high. Under low-tech conditions the plant grows at a very fast rate.
What light level does Dwarf Hygrophila need?
Dwarf Hygrophila (Hygrophila polysperma) needs low to high light. Run a photoperiod of 6–8 hours; longer photoperiods invite algae unless CO₂ and dosing are dialled in.
Where should Dwarf Hygrophila be planted?
Position: midground to background. Substrate: Any, water column feeder It typically reaches 20–40 cm.
How do you propagate Dwarf Hygrophila?
Propagation method: Cuttings (top and side shoots). Dwarf Hygrophila is a stem plant.
What water parameters does Dwarf Hygrophila tolerate?
Target 20–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, and 2–15 dGH. Flow tolerance: low to high.
Is Dwarf Hygrophila suitable for beginners?
Difficulty: 1/5. Almost unkillable, a solid first-tank choice.
Sources & further reading
More plants
See all plantsAdjacent specimens in the catalogue.
Cross-references
Build the rest of the tank.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this plant with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
