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Form of Anubias barteri

Anubias Snow White

Anubias barteri var. nana 'Snow White'

One of 29 forms of Anubias barteri · See all forms →

Also known as Anubias Nana Snow White, Variegated Anubias Nana, Anubias nana 'White'

FreshwaterBrackishRhizomeRhizome division

Anubias Snow White (Anubias barteri var. nana 'Snow White')
Buce Plant · Used with permission

Forms · Anubias barteri

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Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
Max height
3.9 in
10 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Epiphyte
Type
Rhizome
pH
6.0–7.5
Hardness
2–18 dGH
Spread
4.7 in (12 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Medium
Family
Araceae
Origin
West Africa (cultivated selection)

Overview

Anubias Snow White is a compact, creamy white form of Anubias nana with only faint green marbling. It is fussier than the green forms and rates medium in difficulty.

Did you know

Anubias Snow White can starve under the same low light that suits a normal anubias. Its leaves carry so little chlorophyll that one of the hobby's hardiest genera becomes a genuinely temperamental plant.

Caring for Anubias Snow White

Glue or tie the rhizome to hardscape like any anubias, and never bury it. Gentle, stable conditions and patience matter more here than with green anubias.

Give Anubias Snow White medium light, a bit more than a standard nana needs just to feed itself. Strong light plus its very slow growth invites algae, so stop short of bright. CO2 and mild fertilizer help it hold and push new pale leaves. It feeds through its roots and from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it.

It is prone to melting if unhappy, which is one more reason to keep conditions stable. To propagate, divide the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each.

Good to know

Anubias Snow White is a variegated cultivar of Anubias barteri var. nana, an aroid in the family Araceae. The white coloring comes from a lack of chlorophyll in the affected tissue. That is why the plant photosynthesizes poorly and grows even slower than a normal anubias. The variegation is a somatic mutation rather than a stable trait from seed, so it is propagated only by division or tissue culture.

In the wild

Anubias Snow White is not a wild plant but a tissue-cultured selection. Its parent, Anubias barteri var. nana, is a dwarf form from streams and riverbanks in West Africa. There it grows emersed or submersed in shade.

Common questions

Is Anubias Snow White a different species from Anubias barteri?

No. Anubias Snow White is a form of Anubias barteri. It reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm), against 13.8 in (35 cm) for the species. It wants medium light, where the species wants low. Added CO2 helps it, while the species grows well without. It also differs in difficulty, feeding, pH and spread.

Does Anubias Snow White need to be planted in the substrate?

No. Anubias Snow White grows attached to rock or wood, so tie or glue the rhizome in place. If you plant its roots, keep the rhizome above the substrate, since a buried rhizome rots.

Does Anubias Snow White need CO2?

No, but it helps. Anubias Snow White can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Anubias Snow White need?

Anubias Snow White wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Anubias Snow White need root tabs?

No. Anubias Snow White feeds from the water, so a liquid fertilizer suits it better. Root tabs only help if its roots reach into the substrate.

How do you propagate Anubias Snow White?

Anubias Snow White propagates by rhizome division. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Anubias Snow White grow?

Anubias Snow White grows to about 3.9 in (10 cm) tall. It grows slowly and rarely needs trimming.

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