Aponogeton natans

Care at a glance

Overview

This easy bulb prefers medium to high light and a nutrient-rich substrate, and it does not require CO2. Bury only the lower half of the tuber so the crown does not rot, and let it settle before expecting a flush of leaves. Give it room in the background, as its floating leaves can shade plants below.

In the wild

Aponogeton natans sprouts from a tuber to produce both submerged strap leaves and oval floating leaves that reach the surface. It grows in ponds and slow streams that warm and dry seasonally. A healthy bulb can carry a large number of leaves at once.

Good to know

Aponogeton natans belongs to the family Aponogetonaceae, a small group of tuberous aquatic plants from the Old World tropics. The species name natans means floating, a reference to its surface leaves. It flowers readily and can set seed through self-pollination.

Did you know

Its oval leaves float flat on the surface, so in a shallow tank it can quickly form a canopy that shades everything below.

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