Cardamine Lyrata aquarium plant — commonly
known as Chinese Ivy or Japanese Cress — is
one of the most charming and delicate stem
plants available for freshwater planted tanks.
This cardamine lyrata aquarium plant produces
unique round-lobed bright green leaves on
slender delicate stems that create a soft
natural appearance completely unlike any
other aquarium stem plant available.
What makes this cardamine lyrata aquarium
plant particularly special is its preference
for cooler water temperatures — making it
one of the best choices for unheated
aquariums and cool-water planted tank
setups that many other tropical plants
cannot thrive in.
What is Cardamine Lyrata Aquarium Plant?
Cardamine Lyrata is a small aquatic herb
native to East Asia — found naturally in
China, Japan, Korea, and other parts of
Southeast Asia where it grows along the
margins of cool clear streams, rivers,
and moist rocky banks in temperate and
subtropical environments.
In the aquarium this cardamine lyrata
aquarium plant grows as a delicate stem
plant producing distinctive round-lobed
bright green leaves at regular intervals
along its slender stems. Its unique leaf
shape gives it an immediately recognisable
appearance that adds a completely different
visual texture to planted tank layouts.
Why Choose Cardamine Lyrata Aquarium Plant?
🌿 Unique round-lobed bright green leaves
unlike any other aquarium stem plant
🌿 Prefers cooler water — perfect for
unheated and cool-water planted tanks
🌿 Delicate and charming appearance that
adds unique texture to aquascape layouts
🌿 No CO2 required — grows in basic
low-tech setups without special equipment
🌿 Easy to propagate through stem cuttings
— grows readily from cut sections
🌿 Can also be grown emersed above
the waterline in paludariums and terrariums
🌿 Fast growing under good conditions
— fills midground and background quickly
How to Plant Cardamine Lyrata Aquarium Plant
Push the stem ends of this cardamine
lyrata aquarium plant 2 to 3 centimetres
into fine sand or gravel substrate keeping
the lower leaves above the substrate surface.
Plant in groups of 5 to 7 stems spaced
2 centimetres apart for a full natural
midground or background display.
This cardamine lyrata aquarium plant
grows well under low to medium lighting
and prefers water temperatures between
15°C and 22°C. In warmer water above
24°C growth may slow and the plant can
become stressed — making it particularly
well suited to cool-water tanks and
air-conditioned rooms in Indian summers.
Cardamine Lyrata Care Guide
This cardamine lyrata aquarium plant
is easy to care for in the right
conditions. The most important factor
is temperature — keep water below 24°C
for best results. A small weekly dose
of liquid fertiliser supports healthy
growth and maintains the vibrant bright
green colour of the round lobed leaves.
Regular trimming encourages bushy
growth and prevents the plant from
becoming leggy. Simply cut stems at
your desired height and replant the
cuttings alongside the original plants.
Each cutting roots readily and begins
new growth within 1 to 2 weeks.
Cardamine Lyrata Above Water
One of the unique characteristics of
this cardamine lyrata aquarium plant is
its ability to grow both submerged in
the aquarium and emersed above the
waterline. Emersed growth produces
slightly different leaf shapes and
the plant may produce small white
flowers above the waterline — making
it an excellent choice for paludarium
setups where both aquatic and terrestrial
environments are present.
Perfect Plant Combinations
This cardamine lyrata aquarium plant
pairs beautifully with Java Moss
in cool water tank setups and works
wonderfully alongside Anubias Nana
on driftwood in the midground. Also
pairs well with Vallisneria Nana
for a varied natural planted layout.
Browse our complete background plant collection
for more stem plant options.
For more information on Cardamine Lyrata
care visit Fishkeeping World and
Aquatic Plant Central.
Care Details
🌱 Care Level: Easy
💡 Lighting: Low to Medium
💧 CO2: Not required
📍 Placement: Midground to Background
🌡️ Temperature: 15°C – 22°C
⚗️ pH: 6.0 – 7.5
💪 Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast
Every Cardamine Lyrata aquarium plant
from FloraBiz is farm-grown in clean healthy
cultivation tanks in Kozhikode, Kerala and
shipped fresh directly to your doorstep
anywhere in India with our live plant
delivery guarantee.
