TankBud

Eriocaulon Vietnam

Eriocaulon sp. 'Vietnam'

Also known as Erio Vietnam, Eriocaulon 'Vietnam', Vietnam pipewort

FreshwaterRosettedivisionSide shoots

Eriocaulon Vietnam (Eriocaulon sp. 'Vietnam')
Aquarium Plants Factory · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Light
High light
CO2
CO₂ required
Temperature
68–82°F
20–28°C
Max height
4.7 in
12 cm
Growth rate
Slow
Placement
Midground
Type
Rosette
pH
5.0–7.5
Hardness
1–8 dGH
Spread
3.9 in (10 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed or emersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Eriocaulaceae
Origin
Collected from soft, mineral poor waters in Vietnam, where pipeworts grow in seasonally flooded sandy ground.

Overview

This is a high light, CO2 dependent plant that wants soft water and a nutrient rich substrate to look its best. In hard water or low CO2 it stalls and older leaves get overtaken by algae, so stable conditions are key. It is usually sold grown emersed, so expect some melt while it converts to submerged leaves over the first few weeks.

In the wild

Eriocaulon sp. 'Vietnam' forms a low rosette of many narrow, arching green leaves that radiate out from a central point. Over time it produces daughter rosettes that cluster into a dense, grassy bush, useful as a midground feature. It is one of the more forgiving pipeworts but still a demanding aquascaping plant.

Good to know

Pipeworts are flowering plants that form tight rosettes of grass like leaves and send up button shaped flower heads on thin stalks. Many aquarium erios are trade forms named by their country of origin rather than by a described species.

Did you know

Pipeworts are heavy root feeders, so hobbyists often tuck extra root tabs beneath each rosette to fuel the dense growth.

Related plants