Rice Paddy Herb Adventure

I've been extremely curious about the Rice paddy Herb I've seen in grocery stores and how it would turn out in submerged tank with highlight CO2 and ferts.

So I went to the asian grocery store over the weekend and spent a $1 on a powerball lotto ticket, 2 scratchers and bag full Rice Paddy Herb, which cost me whopping $1.29.

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I've been doing some research and on certain sites, limnophila aromatica or aka rice paddy herb was always used synonymously. Below is a photo of limnophila aromatica.
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In my head I was thinking perhaps like ludwigia cuba, the emersed form vs the submerged form are two very different plants.
Emersed:
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Submerged:
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So I planted a couple of stems into my tank. Looks pretty unimpressive at the moment but I was hoping that this caterpillar would turn into a beautiful little butterfly.
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However after a day or so and bit more research. The Rice paddy plant is a very very close relative of limnophila aromatic. Limnophila aromatica 'Corkscrew' or "wavy". It won't transform into nice pink hues and thin leaves but it does have it's own charm.

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I had no luck turning this plant into the beautiful limnophila aromatica, but I did win $26 buck of my 2 scratchers! That's win in my book.

Very neat experiment, binbin9!! And for $1.29 you can't beat that. lol. And hurray for winning more money! always a plus in my book!

Hi binbin9,

Yes, it is a nice, easy to grow plant even without CO2. There has been discussion on a couple of forums at to the correct name for this species. Folks more knowledgeable than myself have said it appears to be a variant of Limnophila aromatic. One of our GSAS members took a sample of it to the AGA Convention in St. Louis last fall and gave it to Cavan (head moderator of Aquatic Plant Central) who said he was going to grow it emersed, flower it, and attempt a definitive identification.

Limnophila sp.
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I have a similar plant (Lymnophila wavy) that I bought from flo77, and it's growing pretty well! The submerged leaves are just like the ones you posted, binbin9... but my leaves don't have the jagged edges.

HOWEVER...

The leaves that are poking out above the water's surface, is growing new leaves that have the same jagged edges, similar to the picture you posted. I was wondering why it looked so familiar. And now I know why. lol! =P

I will see if I can get photos tonight, and post them here so we can compare notes, so to speak

Now....which asian grocery store did you go to, to find that rice paddy herb of yours? I've tried looking at Viet Wah whenever I get a chance to make a trip to Seattle, when I'm looking for Holy Basil, but I've yet to see Rice Paddy Herb sold there, heck I doubt they even label it as "Rice Paddy Herb" let alone its scientific name. Hehehe

I think you'll have to look for it's Vietnamese name. I got it at Viet Wah. Rau Om. They grow nice little pink flowers and is real tasty on certain soups. =)

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Seattle Aquarist: this maybe the scientific name - Limnophila aromatica F. Scrophulariaceae
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Holy crap. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for that from now on. Thanks for the vietnamese name for it! It's pretty funny whenever I go to Viet Wah, I ask the ladies over there for "Holy Basil" (Ka Prao) and they say "Hot Basil" ... which...technically a totally different herb, but it really is Holy Basil. I've yet to find it sold anywhere else, really. Hehe

Rau Om... I'll have to remember that next time. Thanks for the heads up binbin9!

Great thread! Cool Stuff! :O) Thanks for sharing.

binbin9 wrote:I think you'll have to look for it's Vietnamese name. I got it at Viet Wah. Rau Om. They grow nice little pink flowers and is real tasty on certain soups. =)

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Seattle Aquarist: this maybe the scientific name - Limnophila aromatica F. Scrophulariaceae
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Looks like canh chua

I'm hungry Anh!
Me and the guys were in seattle! I thought you were going out for brunch! haha, you should've come for the trip with us!

Next time for sure. =)

I'm heading to Seattle today to watch The Piano Guys (live) at the Neptune Theater... and since we'll be in Seattle, I will make a trip over to Viet Wah and see if they have any Rau Om (for aquatic uses), and Holy Basil (for non-aquatic uses. lol)

SO STOKED TO SEE THE PIANO GUYS LIIIIIIIIVE!!!!

Nice. After 4 days they are filling at the top and looking really nice. I may trim the bottom portion since they are stalky from being grown on land and replant the tops.
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I had a dream last night that I was searching for this in a store...

LOL

Gave the stalky bottoms a trim today. Here's the top view. Its a great looking plant with really nice texture. Can't beat the fact that I probably only used .20 cents worth in my tank.

I've seen it sell for a buck a stem before.

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Okay, here are the pictures of the ones I got from Viet Wah, I'm hoping that it starts to grow like yours binbin9! . . . I did notice though, that the ones that I've had for a while (the ones I bought from flo77) have started to flower! WOOO!!

Pictures - these are the ones I've had for a while.
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Here are the ones I got from Viet Wah, lastnight:
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Nice I hope they flower out of the water

Yeah, I didn't even notice that it had started to flower until just tonight when I took those pictures. lol! I was quite shocked =P this is the first time I've ever had an aquarium plant flower on me!

Congrats! You have happy plants

Hey Poke, right now I don't have any L.aromatica. The plant that you have from me is L. wavy.

flo77, yes I'm aware of the differences I meant to say that I got L. wavy from you, not L. aromatica hehehe, sorry for the confusion.

I'm really loving how this rice paddy herb is growing out in the tank. The leaves are growing long and twisting. The color is an amazingly bright highlighter green.

It's starting to bush out too which gives it nice fullness. And it's stayed relatively compact and low with highlight.


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It looks like a cross between Stargrass and Bacopa. But with twisty leaves. ^_^