Where to find myriophyllum roraima in the uk?

[matti]

I've been eyeing this plant for a bit, but so far the only UK-based seller I can find is on Etsy, and they want £10 for 3 stems, plus shipping. I've checked with AE, Proshrimp, and Horizon Aquatics, but no joy. I did come across some old Reddit posts from about 5 years ago saying it's a rare plant, but I figured it can't still be that hard to find, right?

[graye]

You might be able to find it in tissue cultures, which could be a more affordable option. I've recently started exploring new plants, mainly Cryptocorynes, and I'm probably one of the last to discover the value of getting multiple rare plants at a decent price in the cultures section of reputable stores. Although I'm not sure if they're commonly sold in British stores, I've noticed various Myriophyllum species in stores here, but I haven't paid much attention to them. Myriophyllum species have had a troubled past with invasive issues, which led to a decline in popularity, but this particular one might be making a comeback.

[matti]

Tissue cultures have been my go-to source for rare plants. I actually just received a Schismatoglottis prietoi tissue culture and it's amazing - I got 8 plants out of it. Planning to grow some out and maybe sell them.

I'm curious, is Myriophyllum invasive in the UK too? It seems like it would be a shame if that's the case, as it really does look great under good lighting. If I can't find it elsewhere, I might have to resort to buying from Etsy.

[graye]

We've got a native Myriophyllum species, M. sibericum, but the invasive M. spicatum is a major concern here. Its introduction is often attributed to ship ballast in the 19th century, and there was a time when aquarists were blamed for its spread. I'm not convinced we're entirely to blame, though. As a result, many stores are hesitant to stock any Myriophyllum species. I was surprised to find tissue cultures of exotic Myriophyllum species, not M. spicatum, in stores.

[matti]

I've noticed Myriophyllum mattogrossense is actually quite common in England, at least from my experience. All three of my local fish stores stock it, and I've seen it from most online sellers too. It's a bit odd that other species in the genus aren't as widely available, I guess the invasive issues are likely to blame. Thanks for sharing your insight on this, it's been helpful.

[matti]

I also reached out to MD Fishtanks, as he recently featured the plant in one of his Malawi cichlid aquascapes - hoping to get a lead on a supplier, fingers crossed I get a response back.