Nymphoides hydrophylla ‘Taiwan’ is commonly known as the Taiwan Lily or Flipper Lotus, is a popular, fast-growing freshwater aquarium plant prized for its bright green, translucent, and wavy leaves that resemble miniature water lilies.

Nymphoides hydrophylla ‘Taiwan’ grows in Asia and Africa – and this variant of the species originates from southern Taiwan. The rosette plant can become 15-25 cm tall and 10-15 cm wide. This variant is characterised by many underwater leaves and the intense, light-green, transparent colour of the plant.

The plant is fast-growing and it is necessary to thin out the leaves (remove oldest leaves and surface leaves). The plant is easy to care for under varying conditions, but for optimal growth it requires a lot of nourishment. The new plant grows from the plates of old leaves.

Care Requirements:

• Difficulty: Easy (Great for beginners)
• Growth Rate: Fast
• Lighting: Low to High (Moderate light keeps it compact; low light may cause it to stretch toward the surface)
• CO2 Requirement: Not required, though medium levels promote denser, more robust growth
• Placement: Midground to Background
• Temperature: 20°C – 28°C
• pH Range: 6.0 – 7.5
• Substrate & Nutrition: Thrives with a nutrient-rich aquasoil or inert substrate supplemented with root tabs, as it is a heavy root feeder

Maintenance & Propagation:

• Pruning: Because it grows rapidly, regularly trim the oldest, longest, or surface-bound leaves near the base to encourage a bushy, compact underwater cluster.
• Propagation: New plantlets naturally form directly on the leaf blades and edges of older mature leaves; once they grow small roots, they detach and can be replanted into the substrate.