Cardamine lyrata
Synonyms Giant cardamine
Cardamine lyrata is a stem plant for the midground, growing to about 35 cm (13.8 in) at a fast pace. It wants 61–81°F (16–27°C), low light and CO₂ if you have it, and counts as an easy plant to keep alive.
At a glance
| Type | Stem plant |
|---|---|
| Light | LowThe least light it survives in, not the light it looks best in. |
| CO₂ | RecommendedWhether it survives without added CO₂ — not whether CO₂ would help it grow faster. |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperature | 61–81°F (16–27°C) |
| Max height | 35 cm (13.8 in)Grown submersed, left to mature, never trimmed. |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Placement | planted in the midground |
| pH | 6–7.5 |
Before it goes in
- Cardamine lyrata lives under a plain low-light LED — it does not need a planted-tank lamp to survive.
- CO₂ is not required, but without it expect slow growth and a thinner result.
- In too little light it stretches: long bare stems between leaves instead of a bushy plant.
- At about 35 cm (13.8 in) it belongs behind everything shorter — planted at the front it hides the rest of the scape and shades it.
- Its leaves are soft: Goldfish, Common Pleco and Molly will eat it.
Can it grow without CO₂?
Yes, but slowly. Cardamine lyrata is listed as CO₂-recommended, not CO₂-required: without injection it survives and grows, it just takes far longer to fill in.
How much light does it need?
Low light is enough — and that is the survival line, not the “it looks better” line. Below it, this one stretches instead of spreading.
How big does it get?
About 35 cm (13.8 in) tall when it is mature and untrimmed, growing fast, after roughly 2 weeks to root in.
Will my fish eat it?
Its leaves are soft, so some will: Goldfish, Common Pleco and Molly.
What it goes with
- Plants that run on the same light and CO₂, so they can share a tank without one of them being the odd one out: Water Sprite, Anubias nana 'Petite', Cryptocoryne wendtii and Frogbit.
- Animals that share its temperature range and will not eat or uproot it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Angelfish and Bristlenose Pleco.
Often compared with
| Cardamine lyrata | Hygrophila odora | Ludwigia inclinata | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Low | Medium | Medium |
| CO₂ | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
| Max height | 35 cm | 35 cm | 35 cm |
| Difficulty | Easy | Medium | Medium |
More plants
Sources (2) · checked Sep 2026
- Temperatureaquasabi.com
- Namestropica.com