Hemigraphis repanda, popularly called Dragon's Tongue or Red Ivy, is a creeping evergreen foliage plant of the Acanthaceae family, native to tropical Southeast Asia. It forms a dense, spreading mat of slim, toothed leaves that are olive-green on top with striking metallic purple-to-burgundy undersides, intensifying in bright light.
In India's warm, humid conditions it thrives as a fast groundcover, edging plant, hanging-basket trailer and indoor pot plant. It is equally popular among aquarists, who grow it submerged or emersed in planted aquariums and terrariums.
Easy to grow and quick to root from cuttings, it tolerates shade to part sun and rewards regular moisture with rich, colourful foliage. Occasional small lavender-blue tubular flowers appear in warm weather.
Specifications
| Family |
Acanthaceae |
| Native region |
Tropical Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia) |
| Mature height |
10-20 cm |
| Mature spread |
30-60 cm (spreading) |
| Growth rate |
Fast |
| Foliage |
Evergreen; narrow, serrated leaves, olive-green above with metallic purple-red undersides |
| Flower colour |
Pale lavender to white (small, tubular) |
| Flower season |
Warm/monsoon months |
| Climate zone |
Tropical to subtropical; warm humid |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Bright indirect light to part shade; some morning sun deepens colour, harsh afternoon sun scorches leaves. |
| Watering |
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; water when the top 1-2 cm feels dry. Loves humidity. |
| Soil / mix |
Rich, well-draining loamy potting mix with organic matter; pH slightly acidic to neutral. |
| Temperature |
Ideal 20-32 C; protect from cold below 12 C and frost. |
| Humidity |
High humidity preferred (60%+); ideal for bathrooms, terrariums and aquariums. |
| Fertilizer |
Balanced liquid feed diluted, every 3-4 weeks in the growing season (Mar-Oct). |
| Pruning |
Pinch tips regularly to keep bushy and control spread; remove leggy or faded stems. |
| Repotting |
Repot or divide every 1-2 years in spring once roots fill the pot. |
| Propagation |
Very easy from stem cuttings in water or moist soil; nodes root quickly. Also by division. |
| Pests & problems |
Watch for aphids, mealybugs, whitefly and spider mites in dry conditions; treat with neem oil. |
| Toxicity / safety |
Generally considered non-toxic to pets and humans; not known to be poisonous. |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
<ul><li>Fast-spreading groundcover and border edging in shaded garden beds</li><li>Trailing accent for hanging baskets, balcony pots and indoor planters</li><li>Foreground/carpet plant in planted aquariums, terrariums and paludariums</li><li>Adds rich purple-red foliage contrast among green plants</li></ul>
Growing tips
<ul><li>Plant or divide at the start of the monsoon (Jun-Jul) for fastest establishment.</li><li>In hot, dry North Indian summers, shift pots to bright shade and mist regularly to maintain humidity.</li><li>Brighter (filtered) light intensifies the purple leaf colour; deep shade turns leaves greener.</li><li>Pinch growing tips often for a dense mat; trim runners to stop it overtaking neighbours.</li><li>Protect from winter cold in North India; bring indoors below 12 C.</li></ul>
