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Ammannia Senegalensis (Ammannia senegalensis)

Ammannia senegalensis is a demanding Dutch-style stem plant whose leaves curl and glow coppery orange to red under intense light, the tops sometimes blushing pink. It genuinely needs CO2, high light, and a well-dosed water column to look its best — without them it stalls, pales, and drops leaves — so it is a plant for an established high-tech tank rather than a first attempt.

Care specifications

TypeStem
DifficultyAdvanced
LightHigh (50–80 µmol PAR)
CO2Required
Fertilizer demandHigh
Growth rateMedium
Max height14 in
Spread3 in
PlacementMidground, Background
Attaches to hardscapeNo
Snail & shrimp safeYes
Temperature72–82 °F
pH6–7.2
ColorOrange
TrimmingRegular
StylesDutch, Nature

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Ammannia Senegalensis

Ammania Senegalensis (Copper Leaf Ammania)

$5.99 In stock

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Propagation

Top the stems and replant the cuttings once they have firmed up; trimmed bases resprout.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the leaves on my Ammannia senegalensis curling?

A gentle inward curl toward the light is normal and part of its look. Tight, distorted curling combined with stunted tops, though, usually signals a CO2 or micronutrient shortfall — this plant is an early warning sign for instability, so steady your CO2 and dosing and the new growth straightens out.

Can I grow Ammannia senegalensis without CO2?

Realistically, no. It can limp along briefly, but without injected CO2 it loses color, sheds lower leaves, and gets outcompeted. If you want a similar copper-orange effect in a low-tech tank, this is not the plant — choose a hardier red stem instead.

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