Hygrophila triflora

• 8 - 30cm height
• Temperature 21 - 28°C
• Light requirement normal - high
• pH 5.8 - 7.5

Hygrophila triflora is a relatively unknown aquarium plant. It grows well, but not too quickly, and the leaves are finely pinnate to varying degrees.

It is closely related to the well-known Indian water frond (Hygrophila difformis), but the two species differ greatly in their underwater form. Even the rather inconspicuous emersed (above-)water form is completely different from the splendid leaves that Hygrophila triflora develops under water.

In Hygrophila triflora, the submerged leaves remain smaller and are less deeply incised than in the Indian water frond.
The great coloring is particularly worth mentioning, as the shoot tips of Hygrophila triflora turn strong olive-brown to pink and true red in strong lighting.
The stems usually branch out strongly and tend to spread out, sometimes horizontal growth. However, they can easily be shortened and thus kept at a height of only about 8cm. Strong lighting leads to a stronger brown-red coloration of the young leaves and prevents the lower parts of the stem from shedding their leaves too early.
The three-flowered water fern is an interesting addition to the aquarium world, its space requirements are manageable so that this unobtrusively colored plant also fits well in small aquariums.