Rotala Macrandra Pearl
Rotala Macrandra Pearl
Rotala Macrandra Pearl is a rare and delicate macrandra cultivar producing distinctive pearl-like, softly rounded red-pink leaves on fine stems — the characteristic rounded pearl leaf form giving this cultivar a uniquely soft, lustrous quality quite different from the more flat, broad leaves of standard macrandra. The pearl leaf form creates a subtle but beautiful textural variation that adds another layer of refinement to the already extraordinary macrandra aesthetic.
Care tip: Rotala Macrandra Pearl grows best in high lighting with CO₂ required. Maintain temperatures of 72–82°F and pH 5.5–6.8. Regular liquid fertilization supports healthy growth and best coloration.
Growing to 8 to 14 inches, Macrandra Pearl requires the same demanding conditions as all macrandra forms — CO₂, very soft water, intense light, and low nitrates — for its characteristic pearl-like leaf quality to develop. Without these conditions the distinctive rounded pearl form becomes less defined and the plant loses the specific character that makes this cultivar worth seeking out.
As an advanced plant, Macrandra Pearl requires CO₂ injection, intense lighting, soft water, and a pH of 5.5 to 6.8 — a notably tighter and more acidic pH range than most macrandra forms. This narrower pH range reflects the specific preferences of this cultivar. Temperatures between 72 and 82°F provide comfortable conditions. Consistent fertilization and stable water parameters are essential.
In the aquascape, Rotala Macrandra Pearl creates a refined, pearl-textured red-pink background display of considerable delicacy and botanical distinction. The rounded, pearl-like leaf form is most visible up close where the distinctive shape differentiates Pearl clearly from standard flat-leaved macrandra. It is a collector's cultivar for aquarists who want every variety of the extraordinary macrandra species.
Rotala Macrandra Pearl is a refined and delicate macrandra cultivar for dedicated high-tech aquarists. Its pearl-like leaf form and exacting care requirements make it a specialist plant for those who want the finest expression of Rotala macrandra variety diversity.
Care & Specifications
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Placement | Midground to Background |
| Max Height | 8–14 inches |
| Light Level | High |
| Temperature | 72–82°F |
| pH | 5.5–6.8 |
| CO2 Needs | Required |
| Origin | India (Cultivar) |
| Notes | A delicate macrandra cultivar producing distinctive pearl-like, slightly rounded red-pink leaves on fine stems. Requires CO₂, very soft water, and intense light to develop the characteristic pearl quality of the leaves. One of the most refined and visually distinctive macrandra cultivars — a showpiece for high-tech aquascapers. |
