Nymphoides Hydrophylla Taiwan

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Taiwan Lily; Dwarf Taiwan Lily; Flipper Lotus; Snowflake Lily 'Taiwan'

Synonyms

Nymphoides aquatica 'Taiwan'

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Taiwan (cultivar of species native to Asia and Africa)

Habitat

Shallow marshes, ponds, and slow-moving freshwater bodies where it roots in substrate and can produce floating surface leaves

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Growth form

Rosette

Max height

4 – 12 in (10 – 30 cm)

Spread

6 in (15 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Midground, Background

Water

Temperature

68 – 82 °F (20 – 28 °C)

pH

6.0 – 7.5

GH

3 – 15 dGH

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Medium

CO₂

Beneficial

Planting

Substrate

Nutrient-rich preferred

Feeds from

Both

Fertilizer needs

High

Colors

Green

Feeding & breeding

Propagation

Plantlets, Runners

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Care guide

Overview

Rounded, glossy green leaves grow in a low rosette that spreads outward through runners and can reach 12 inches given time and root nutrition. Left untrimmed, some leaves will climb to the surface and flatten into lily pads, so periodic pruning keeps the midground stand compact. Easy-going and adaptable, it suits nutrient-rich, low-tech to CO2-enriched setups alike.

Care

A forgiving plant that adapts to a wide range of water conditions and lighting levels, though moderate to high light keeps growth compact and the leaves a brighter green rather than long and reaching for the surface. Regular trimming of the oldest leaves and any that start climbing toward the surface keeps the rosette dense and prevents it from turning into a floating lily. It tolerates low-tech setups without CO2 but rewards a nutrient-rich substrate and steady dosing with noticeably fuller growth. Avoid strong flow, which can tear or stress the newer, softer leaves.

Planting & trimming

Plant the root mass into the substrate while keeping the crown and leaf plates above the surface, since burying the growing point can cause rot. It grows well in the midground to background and can be kept low and bushy with regular thinning, or allowed to reach the surface for a more natural, floating-leaf look. When starting from tissue-cultured cups, rinse off the gel medium and divide the mass into a few smaller, well-rooted portions rather than planting the whole clump at once.

Fertilizing

This is a heavy root feeder, so a nutrient-rich substrate or regular root tabs make a large difference in leaf size and density. Liquid or column fertilization also helps, especially in tanks without a rich substrate, and iron supplementation can keep new leaves from coming in pale. Slowed growth or small, thin leaves usually points to a lack of nutrients rather than a lighting problem.

Propagation

New plantlets form directly on the surface of older leaves and can be separated once they develop their own small root system, then replanted elsewhere in the tank. It also spreads through short runners from the base of the mother plant. Propagation is quick and reliable, making it easy to build up a stand of plants from a single starter specimen.

Problems

Leaves that reach the water surface will often flatten out and behave like true lily pads, shading the plants below if left unchecked, so periodic removal of these surface leaves is routine maintenance rather than a sign of trouble. Yellowing or thinning of older leaves is normal as the plant sheds them to make way for new plantlets. Algae can settle on the broad leaf surfaces in high-light tanks, so occasional wiping or increased flow around the foliage helps keep it clean.

Sources

1. Nymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan' - Tropica Aquarium Plants
2. Taiwan lily care: light, CO2 and placement · TankBud
3. Nymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan' (1-2-Grow) | Tropica
4. Nymphoides hydrophylla Taiwan

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