Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart (Lagenandra meeboldii 'Bleeding Heart') is a rare color form of Lagenandra meeboldii, found in the Wayanad region of Kerala in south-western India in 2009 and now propagated by tissue culture. Lagenandra is a close cousin of Cryptocoryne. Mature leaves develop near-black striping over a deep purplish-red base, while young plants start out olive green to reddish brown, so the full pattern appears as the plant matures.

Care tip: Like Cryptocoryne, Bleeding Heart may melt back after planting. This is a normal reaction to new water conditions — leave the roots in place and new leaves will follow. It is slow to establish, so avoid moving it once planted.

Bleeding Heart is a root feeder. Plant it in a nutrient-rich substrate or add root tabs near the base. Moderate lighting is enough; CO₂ is recommended for the best growth and color but not required. Temperatures of 72–82°F and a pH of 6.0–7.5 suit it well. Growth is slow, so leaves last a long time and maintenance is minimal.

This is a compact rosette plant that typically reaches about 6 to 10 inches tall in the aquarium, with broad leaves that spread several inches wide. That makes it a good midground specimen for small and medium tanks, including larger nano tanks. Grown emersed in a paludarium it can get somewhat larger.

In the aquascape, use Bleeding Heart as a solitary specimen or in a small group in the midground, where its dark, patterned leaves stand out against green Cryptocoryne, Bucephalandra and light-colored sand.

Care & Specifications