Ammannia senegalensis
Ammannia senegalensis
Ammannia senegalensis is a striking advanced-level stem plant from Africa, producing deep red leaves under high light and CO₂ that create a dramatic color contrast in the midground of the planted aquarium. The intensely pigmented foliage is a rich, saturated red that deepens with optimal conditions — a rewarding color display that requires significant care investment to achieve and maintain.
Care tip: Ammannia senegalensis grows best in high lighting with CO₂ required. Maintain temperatures of 72–82°F and pH 6.5–7.5. Regular liquid fertilization supports healthy growth and best coloration.
Growing to 3 to 5 inches, Ammannia senegalensis is unusually compact for an Ammannia species, making it valuable as a midground red accent where taller stem plants would be out of scale. Regular trimming encourages dense, bushy growth and ensures fresh, intensely colored new growth is consistently produced. The deep red coloration is most vivid in active growing tips under good lighting.
This is an advanced plant that requires both CO₂ injection and high lighting to thrive and display its best color — without these conditions it struggles to maintain compact growth and the red pigmentation fades significantly. The pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 is slightly narrower than many aquarium plants, reflecting its specific water chemistry preferences. Temperatures between 72 and 82°F suit this plant well. Consistent fertilization with iron-rich formulas is essential for maintaining the deep red color.
In the aquascape, Ammannia senegalensis provides compact red color at midground scale — a rare combination that makes it particularly valuable for detailed Dutch and nature-style compositions. Grouped in small clusters on featured sections of the midground, the deep red color creates powerful warm accents that contrast naturally with green foreground plants and background stem species.
Ammannia senegalensis is a rewarding plant for experienced aquarists with established CO₂ systems. Its unusual compact size and deep red color make it a unique and valuable component of the high-tech planted aquarium.
Care & Specifications
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Placement | Foreground to Midground |
| Max Height | 3-5 inches |
| Light Level | High |
| Temperature | 72–82°F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 |
| CO2 Needs | Required |
| Origin | Africa |
| Notes | Dark red leaves under high light and CO₂. Great contrast plant for mid ground. |
