Freshwater
Dwarf Hygrophila
Hygrophila polysperma
Acanthaceae
Facts
Care
- Growth form
- Under water
- Placement
- Midground, Background
- Light
- Low
- CO₂
- Not needed
- Growth
- Fast
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Height
- Up to 50 cm
Range
NativeIntroduced
Lives wild in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, China Southeast, East Himalaya, India, Malaya, Myanmar (Burma), and 6 more countries.
Introduced to Germany, Japan, Mexico, Poland, and United States.
Videos
Snorkeling With Freshwater Puffers | Exploring Southern Thailand EP3
Rodrigo SilvaJan 16, 2026
More about the species
Description
Hygrophila polysperma, commonly known as dwarf hygrophila, dwarf hygro, Miramar weed, Indian swampweed or Indian waterweed, is an aquatic plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to Bangladesh, India, China and Malaysia, and has also been introduced to the US states of Florida, Texas and possibly Virginia. It is listed on the Federal Noxious Weed List in the US and is illegal to import and sell in a number of states including Kansas and South Carolina.
Other names
Other scientific names
- Hemiadelphis polysperma
- Hemigraphis tonkinensis
- Justicia polysperma
In other languages
- Indian swampweed
Articles
All articles
Easy plants for beginners4 min read
Plants that cope with low light, soft water and a beginner’s mistakes, and how to plant them so they grow.
How to set up an Asian aquarium5 min read
Two aquariums from Southeast Asia: calm forest streams and peat swamps with soft, brown water, and fast mountain streams with cool, oxygen-rich water.
How to care for aquarium plants3 min read
Light, nutrients and CO₂ in balance, low tech versus high tech, and how to read from the leaves what your plants are missing.