This Sri Lankan species has the unusual status of an invasive plant in Texas and Florida, where released specimens have taken root in warmer rivers. A polymorphic species, the plant can only be identified with certainty by its asymmetrical, brownish-yellow limb which has a groove in the top part. Otherwise, it is easily confused with C. wendtii or C. undulata. The plant sold as C. petchii is the triploid form of C. becketti, meaning it has three sets of chromosomes, unlike most organisms which have two. This form has a more delicate growth habit and smaller size than the usual C. becketti.

One of the most easily-grown members of its genus, C. becketti tolerates a wide spectrum of water and lighting parameters and is suitable as a foreground to midground plant in most aquaria. The lanceolate foliage can range from olive green to a deep reddish brown that makes for a striking contrast to fine-leaved stem plants.