TankBud

One species · 1 form

Madagascar lace

Aponogeton madagascariensis

Also known as Madagascar lace plant, lace plant, laceleaf, Aponogeton fenestralis, Aponogeton guillotii, Aponogeton madagascariensis var. major

FreshwaterBulb / tuberBulb offsetsRhizome divisionSeeds

Madagascar lace (Aponogeton madagascariensis)
(c) Yasuaki Kobayashi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Light
Medium light
CO2
CO₂ beneficial
Temperature
64–75°F
18–24°C
Max height
23.6 in
60 cm
Growth rate
Medium
Placement
Background
Type
Bulb / tuber
pH
5.5–7.0
Hardness
2–8 dGH
Spread
15.7 in (40 cm)
Nutrient uptake
Root + water column
Growth region
Submersed
Difficulty
Difficult
Family
Aponogetonaceae
Origin
Madagascar (endemic)

Pick a form

Henkel's lace plant wants the same cool, soft, acidic water and medium light as Madagascar lace.

Overview

Madagascar lace is a demanding bulb plant for the background, grown for its leaves of open lattice.

Did you know

As each Madagascar lace leaf grows, the plant kills off the tissue between the veins and leaves an open lattice behind.

Caring for Madagascar lace

Plant the bulb at an angle with only the lower half or two thirds in the substrate, so the crown does not rot.

Madagascar lace is a cool-water species. Keep it at roughly 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C). Warm tropical water speeds its growth past what the bulb can sustain, and the bulb melts. Give it soft, acidic water, steady flow, good filtration and regular root and water-column feeding. CO2 is not required, but it helps.

It may rest and shed leaves now and then. Keep conditions stable rather than forcing a dry dormancy.

Var. major has broad leaves and an even net of square openings. Wild plants run through many in-between forms, from nearly solid leaves to heavy perforation. Van Bruggen folded every form into one species in 1968 for that reason.

Dustin's and Glass Aqua describe Henkel's as narrower-leaved than Madagascar lace, while Flowgrow and Buce Plant call it broad-leaved. Aquasabi in Germany sells the broad, even form as Aponogeton fenestralis and says the typical narrow form sometimes ships as Henkel's. Fenestralis was the name for the whole species until 1968, when van Bruggen showed madagascariensis was published first. Aponogeton guillotii, split off for its small, rounded leaf openings, joined the species at the same time.

Good to know

Madagascar lace belongs to the Aponogetonaceae and is the best known of the lace plants. It grows from a tuberous bulb and usually reproduces by seed after flowering.

In the wild

Madagascar lace is endemic to Madagascar, where it grows submerged in slow-moving rivers and clear, soft, flowing streams.

Common questions

How do I tell Henkel's lace plant from Madagascar lace?

Look at the lattice. Henkel's has an irregular net crossed by strong cross veins, and the typical form has a more regular one.

Does Henkel's lace plant need cooler water than Madagascar lace?

Both lace plants want the same cool water, 64–75°F (18–24°C). Warmer water speeds their growth past what the bulb can sustain, and the leaves melt.

Can you buy Aponogeton madagascariensis var. major?

Var. major is rarely sold by that name in the US, where shops mostly sell plain Madagascar lace and Henkel's lace plant.

Does Madagascar lace need to be planted in the substrate?

Yes, but only partly. Push the roots into the substrate and leave at least the top half of the bulb uncovered so it doesn't rot.

Does Madagascar lace need CO2?

No, but it helps. Madagascar lace can grow without injected CO2, and added CO2 makes it grow faster.

How much light does Madagascar lace need?

Madagascar lace wants medium light. A light sold for planted tanks covers it.

Does Madagascar lace need root tabs?

They help. Madagascar lace takes nutrients through both its roots and its leaves. Root tabs near its roots and a liquid fertilizer cover both.

How do you propagate Madagascar lace?

Madagascar lace propagates by bulb offsets and rhizome division. The bulb forms offsets, which can be separated and planted on their own. Cut the rhizome into pieces with several leaves each, then tie or plant each piece.

How tall does Madagascar lace grow?

Madagascar lace grows to about 23.6 in (60 cm) tall. It grows at a moderate pace.

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