Aponogeton ulvaceus

Also known as Compact aponogeton

FreshwaterBulb / tuberBulb offsets

Aponogeton ulvaceus (Aponogeton ulvaceus) — (c) Nick T., some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa

Care at a glance

Light: Medium light
CO2: CO₂ beneficial
Growth rate: Fast
Placement: Background
Type: Bulb / tuber
Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Hardness: 4–12 dGH
Max height: 19.7 in (50 cm)
Spread: 19.7 in (50 cm)
Nutrient uptake: Root feeder
Growth region: Submersed
Difficulty: Medium
Origin: Madagascar
Family: Aponogetonaceae

Overview

A solitary background or specimen plant for larger tanks, where its long wavy leaves fill out the back. Bury only the lower half of the tuber and leave the growing point exposed, or it will rot. It does fine in medium light without CO2 but colors up and grows faster with CO2 and iron-rich root tabs in the substrate. The main pitfall is the dormancy cycle: if it suddenly drops all its leaves, do not throw the tuber out, leave it in place and it usually resprouts within a few weeks.

In the wild

Native to Madagascar, where it grows fully submersed in slow-moving rivers, lakes, and seasonal ponds. Many of these waters dry back or slow seasonally, which is why the plant evolved a tuber that can sit dormant through a dry spell and resprout when conditions return.

Good to know

A member of the Aponogetonaceae, grown from a rounded tuber (a true bulb-like storage organ) rather than from a crown or runners. A single healthy tuber can throw 40 or more leaves, and the species is known for its delicate, translucent light-green blades with a wavy, fluted margin. It flowers on a stalk that reaches the surface and can be hand-pollinated to set seed.

Did you know

Some plants sold as A. ulvaceus are actually hybrids, and the genus is famous for the Madagascar lace plant (A. madagascariensis), a relative whose leaves are reduced to a skeletal lattice of veins with no tissue in between.